Final answer:
The accurate statements about blood pressure are that normal blood pressure for resting adults is 120/80 mm Hg or less, persistent readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher indicate chronic hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, smoking, and stress are risk factors for hypertension.
Step-by-step explanation:
The following statements regarding blood pressure are true:
- (b) Normal blood pressure for resting adults is 120/80 mm Hg or less.
- (c) Chronic hypertension is indicated by persistent BP readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher.
- (e) Diabetes mellitus, smoking, and stress are all considered risk factors for the development of hypertension.
Blood pressure is a measure of the force that blood exerts on the walls of arteries. When systemic arterial blood pressure is measured, the systolic pressure, or the pressure during ventricular contraction, is denoted by the higher number (typically around 120 mm Hg), while the diastolic pressure, which occurs during ventricular relaxation, is the lower number (usually about 80 mm Hg).
The carotid arteries can be used to assess circulation and indirectly measure blood pressure, but the standard site for directly measuring blood pressure is the brachial artery in the arm. Normal blood pressure is considered to be less than 120/80 mm Hg, and blood pressure measurements between 120/80 mm Hg and 140/90 mm Hg are considered to indicate prehypertension. Chronic and persistent readings at or above 140/90 mm Hg are diagnostic of hypertension. Although the exact cause of hypertension is often unknown, it is known that primary hypertension or essential hypertension accounts for most cases, and several factors, including diabetes mellitus, smoking, and stress, increase the risk of developing this condition.