Blood Pressure
Definition
Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. It's one of the principal vital signs that health professionals measure to assess a person's physical health.
Analogy
Think of your circulatory system as a city's water supply system. The heart is like the water pump station, and your arteries are like the pipes carrying water (blood) throughout the city (your body). Blood pressure would be similar to the water pressure in those pipes - too high, and it could cause damage; too low, and not enough water gets where it needs to go.
Related terms
Hypertension: This is when blood pressure remains consistently high over time. It's like if a city’s water pump was always running at full blast, putting too much strain on the pipes.
Hypotension: This refers to abnormally low blood pressure. It's akin to a weakly functioning pump that can't push enough water through a city’s pipe system.
Cardiovascular System: This is your body’s “transportation network,” including your heart and all your blood vessels. It's like an entire city’s infrastructure for delivering essential resources.
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