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Blood Pressure Calculator
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating
blood upon the walls of blood vessels and is one of the principal
vital signs. During each heartbeat, blood pressure varies between
a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. The mean
blood pressure, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow
in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away
from the heart through arteries. Blood pressure drops most rapidly
along the small arteries and arterioles, and continues to decrease
as the blood moves through the capillaries and back to the heart
through veins. Gravity, valves in veins, and pumping from contraction
of skeletal muscles, are some other influences on blood pressure
at various places in the body.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) may be divided into three types:
Mild Hypertension: The systolic blood pressure ranges between
140 and 160 and the diastolic blood pressure ranges between 90 and
100.
Moderate Hypertension: The systolic blood pressure ranges
between 160 and 200 and the diastolic blood pressure ranges between
100 and 120.
Severe Hypertension: The systolic blood pressure is above
200 and the diastolic blood pressure is above 120.
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