General Blood Pressure Kit Information General Information Hypertension affects approximately 60 million Americans, and probably several more million suffer from the disease but remain undiagnosed. If left untreated, high blood pressure can result in stroke, heart disease, or kidney disease, all of which may be fatal. Through early diagnosis and treatment, long term complications can be avoided. Systolic pressure refers to the pressure exerted by the blood against the arterial wall when the heart beats.
Diastolic pressure is the resting pressure between beats.
Mercury and aneroid meters involve the use of a stethoscope to detect the Kortkoff's sounds produced by the arterial wall in response to arterial pressure. As the cuff pressure increases, the artery is compressed and blood flow is restricted. As the cuff pressure is gradually released, blood flow is reestablished and the sounds can be heard in different phases. Oscillometric cuffs measures blood pressure from changes in the force of the surges. There are different types of blood pressure meters.