Understanding Heart Rate & Blood Pressure

Knowing your numbers and what they mean

• What is blood pressure?• What should your blood

pressure numbers be?• What do you do if your blood

pressure numbers are too high?

• What does your heart do?• What is heart rate?• What should your heart rate

numbers be?

Your Heart• It looks like an ice-cream

cone!• Pointed bottom• Rounded top• Hollow• Can fill up with blood

– In middle of chest

– Between your lungs

– Size of fist

– Tipped over• More on left side

– Is a muscle• Acts like a pump

MORE ABOUT YOUR HEART

http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/102441059502447%20What%20Is%20the%20Heart.pdf

Your heart sends blood to the whole body• Oxygen• Nutrients• Carries away waste

Heart Parts:• Arteries• Capillaries• Veins

HEART RATE

-the number of heartbeats per unit of time- beats per minute (bpm)

-can vary as the body's need to absorb O2 and excrete CO2 changes, such as during exercise or sleep

HEART RATE-assists in the diagnosis & tracking of medical conditions

-monitor heart rate in athletes to gain maximum efficiency from their training

-measured by finding the pulse - at any point on thebody where an artery’s pulsation is transmitted to the surface

-No thumb!! Use your middle and index

The inside of the elbowBehind the knee Over the abdomenThe chest (apex of the heart)The temple

For Example….

Neck

Wrist

Resting heart rate -heart rate when they awake; lying down and not immediately post-exertion

-Typical healthy Hrrest in adults is 60–80 bpm

bradycardia-rates below 60 bpmtachycardia-rates above 100 bpm

-conditioned athletes often have resting heart rates below 60 bpm.

Q: What’s the deal with athletes?Lance Armstrong: Hrrest = 32 bpm

Blood Pressure Measurement• Force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries

• Force• Amount of blood • Size • Flexibility of the arteries

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003398.htm

Aneroid Monitor Digital Monitor Finger/Wrist Monitor

3 Ways to Measure Blood Pressure

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/treatment/128.html

Before Taking Your Blood Pressure…• Don’t use 30 minutes prior to

taking your blood pressure:

– Caffeine,

– Alcohol, or

– Tobacco.

• Go to the bathroom.

• Rest 3-5 minutes before taking your blood pressure.

• Sit comfortably.

– Legs and ankles uncrossed

– Back supported

What Does Your Blood Pressure Reading Mean?

Normal• Less than 120• Less than 80

Pre-hypertension• 120-139• 80-89

High Blood Pressure – Stage 1• 140-159• 90 – 99

High Blood Pressure – Stage 2• 160 or higher• 100 or higher

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/treatment/128.html

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhatIs.html

What Is Your Blood Pressure?

Lab: Measuring Heart Rate Friday February 11, 2011Look online for posted assignments

Lab 2: Measuring Blood PressureMonday February 14, 2011Look online for posted assignments