Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure inside your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. Blood pressure changes continually depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and medication use, however when resting a healthy person's blood pressure usually falls within a certain range. High or low blood pressure can both be dangerous, and can be caused by a variety of conditions from infections to coronary heart disease.
What's involved in having a blood pressure test?
Blood pressure is usually measured while you are seated with your arm resting on a table. A soft cuff is inflated around your arm as the nurse, doctor, or electronic sensor listens to your pulse.
If you are having a heart health assessment we may take your blood pressure during your assessment or you may be given a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. This records the changes in your blood pressure by measuring it at intervals over a period of time.