On September 29, World Heart Day, organisations across India hold camps to help the public"know their numbers" blood pressure (BP), blood sugar and body weight. A BP of 120/80 mmHg (millimetre mercury) or below is considered normal. More than 140/90, signifying Stage 1 hypertension, and more than 160/100, signifying Stage 2, can damage the brain, eyes, heart and kidneys. When studying blood pressure, scientists have been intrigued by the giraffe, the gentle giant of Africa. How does it pump blood through its body that rises to 18 feet? With what force does it pump blood up the six-foot-long neck to its brain? What protects the giraffe from giddiness as it bends down to drink water and then lifts its head up? Despite standing almost all the time, why doesn't a giraffe faint? The answers to these questions hold answers to protect human beings from brain haemorrhage due to high BP and fainting due to low BP. The giraffe's strong heart generates a pressure of 300 mmHg needed to pump blood all the way up its long neck. Yet, when scientists measured the BP in its brain, it was a constant 120/80 mmHg. A network of blood vessels in the upper neck helps reduce the BP. The network and valves in major veins maintain a constant pressure in the giraffe's brain even when it stoops to drink water and lifts its neck up to its full height. Human beings lack this stabilising mesh and need to protect the brain by other means, avoiding tobacco, consuming less salt, coping with stress, taking medicines and above all by detecting hypertension through periodic check-ups. The giraffe doesn't have these complications! Standing still for long, weak leg muscles and the effects of some medicines can cause pooling of blood in the legs, lowering the BP. Getting up from bed suddenly, stiff arteries and reduced water intake can sometimes cause a significant drop in BP on standing up. Whatever the cause, dizziness due to low BP is often relieved by allowing blood to flow freely into the brain by making the patient lie flat on the ground. Lifting the legs facilitates the flow of blood.
Blood Pressure Reading Explained
The question asks to classify a blood pressure reading of 150/90 mmHg based on the provided information about different hypertension stages.
Understanding Hypertension Stages
The text provides specific criteria for different blood pressure categories:
- Normal Blood Pressure: A blood pressure (BP) reading of 120/80 mmHg or below is considered normal.
- Stage 1 Hypertension: A BP reading of more than 140/90 mmHg signifies Stage 1 hypertension.
- Stage 2 Hypertension: A BP reading of more than 160/100 mmHg signifies Stage 2 hypertension.
Classifying the 150/90 mmHg Reading
Let's analyze the given reading, 150/90 mmHg, using the criteria:
- The systolic pressure (top number) is 150 mmHg.
- The diastolic pressure (bottom number) is 90 mmHg.
Comparing this to the definitions:
- Is it normal? No, because 150 mmHg is greater than 120 mmHg.
- Is it Stage 1 hypertension? The condition for Stage 1 is BP "more than 140/90". Since 150/90 is greater than 140/90, it fits this category.
- Is it Stage 2 hypertension? The condition for Stage 2 is BP "more than 160/100". Since 150/90 is not more than 160/100, it does not fit this category.
Therefore, a blood pressure reading of 150/90 mmHg falls into the category of Stage 1 hypertension.
Blood Pressure Classification Table
| Blood Pressure Reading (Systolic/Diastolic) | Classification |
|---|---|
| Below or equal to 120/80 mmHg | Normal |
| More than 140/90 mmHg | Stage 1 Hypertension |
| More than 160/100 mmHg | Stage 2 Hypertension |
Based on this classification, the reading of 150/90 mmHg is identified as Stage 1 hypertension.
Similar Questions
- Why did John remain steadfast in his traditional farming methods?
- What can we infer about John's character from the story?
- What was the name of the old farmer in the story?
- What did the young farmers do when they came to the village?
- What would be an appropriate title for this story?
- Select the most appropriate word to fill in blank no. 5.
- "Avoiding tobacco, consuming less salt, coping with stress, taking medicines". In whatcontext does the writer mention these things?
- Why does dizziness due to low BP occur?
- Which of the following key measurements of health is NOT included in the phrase "knowtheir numbers"?
- Which of the following does NOT puzzle scientists about the giraffe?
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
- Which framework globally guides national policies on Community Centered Disaster Risk Reduction?
- In the context of disaster governance, which principle emphasizes empowering local to take the lead in risk mitigation strategies?
- What distinguishes participatory disaster management from top-down approaches?
- Which of the following is a major barrier to effective local disaster risk reduction implementation in developing countries?
- How can technology most effectively support community-based disaster resilience?
