I remember the first time I learned to measure blood pressure. It was in the dimly lit cardiology ward, tucked away in the southwest corner of the University College Hospital in Ibadan. We had a tutorial with a senior registrar, who carefully walked us through the intricacies of taking blood pressure.
I still remember pulling my stethoscope out of my trusty knapsack. After securing consent from a kind patient willing to let us practice, I put the cold earpieces into my ears.
Measuring blood pressure is a straightforward, almost routine procedure. You wrap a cuff around the patient’s upper arm and inflate it using a manual pump. At the same time, you place the bell of the stethoscope on the inside of the elbow joint, right where the arm and forearm meet.
The goal? To listen for heartbeats as blood flows through the arteries. We were taught to listen for specific sounds—called Korotkoff sounds (I may not have gotten the spelling right at the time!)—which help determine blood pressure.
Why Should You Measure Your Blood Pressure?
Believe it or not, there was a time when we knew nothing about the circulatory system. We had no idea that the heart pumped blood through a network of arteries and veins. When William Harvey discovered the circulatory system, it became clear that blood pressure was a key part of cardiovascular health.
As science progressed, researchers uncovered the link between high blood pressure and heart disease. The first experiments were crude—imagine someone inserting a tube into a horse’s artery to watch how high the blood could rise! But from those simple beginnings, we now know that monitoring blood pressure is essential for identifying and managing health risks.
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension is just another name for high blood pressure. It means the pressure of the blood being pumped by your heart is consistently too high. Over time, this excess pressure can lead to serious damage to your body.
Think of the plumbing in your house. If the water pressure gets too high, something eventually gives—a pipe might burst, or the pump could wear out. Similarly, in your body, high blood pressure can lead to a burst blood vessel (a hemorrhagic stroke) or cause your heart to enlarge and weaken over time (cardiomegaly and heart failure).
How High Is Too High?
Figuring out the ideal blood pressure range wasn’t easy, but medical experts eventually settled on some general numbers. A normal blood pressure reading falls between 100–120 mmHg (systolic) over 60–80 mmHg (diastolic).
To break it down: the systolic pressure is the force when the heart is pumping blood, and the diastolic pressure is the force when the heart relaxes between beats.
It’s also worth noting that blood pressure naturally fluctuates throughout the day. Stress and anxiety can temporarily raise your readings—some people even get high readings at the doctor’s office but have normal blood pressure at home (a phenomenon called white coat syndrome).
Generally, if your blood pressure is consistently above 140/90 mmHg, it’s considered high. Diagnosing hypertension typically involves multiple readings over time to calculate an average.
Why Is High Blood Pressure Dangerous?
High blood pressure is a sneaky problem—it doesn’t usually cause immediate issues, but it’s a long-term threat. The longer it stays elevated, the greater the risk of complications.
One major complication is a hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when a blood vessel bursts, causing damage to surrounding tissue. This can occur in the brain, eyes, or elsewhere in the body.
Another issue is the toll high blood pressure takes on the heart. Over time, the heart has to work harder to pump against the increased pressure. This can cause the heart to grow larger (a condition called cardiomegaly), which eventually leads to heart failure.
What Can You Do About It?
Start by checking your blood pressure regularly—especially as you get older. If you’re over 40, it might be a good idea to invest in a home blood pressure monitor.
If your readings are consistently high, don’t ignore it. See a doctor for advice and treatment. Hypertension can be managed with lifestyle changes, medication, or a combination of both.
Remember: catching it early can save you from bigger problems down the line.