How to Teach a Class on Blood Pressure

Your heart pumps blood into your arteries each time it beats, and the amount of force it uses to pump is measured as your blood pressure. Systolic pressure is measured when your heart beats, diastolic pressure is measured during the rest in between beats, and both numbers make up a blood pressure reading. How you teach a class on blood pressure depends on the age and current knowledge level of your students, but certain elements should apply regardless.

Things You'll Need

• Blood pressure kit (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Explain to your students what blood pressure is, using information from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at nhlbi.nih.gov. Find pictures in textbooks or videos online. Visuals help students understand the information in a more integrated way than just words and statistics alone.

• 2

  Describe the effects of high blood pressure, and how it can damage your blood vessels, kidney, heart and other organs, leading to kidney failure, stroke and heart disease.

• 3

  Use a home blood pressure kit to measure the students' blood pressure, and get them to measure each other. You can purchase kits online or at pharmacies. Be sure to explain how to use a stethoscope with the blood pressure cuff to get the systolic and diastolic readings, with the instructions included in the kit.

• 4

  Explain how to prevent or control high blood pressure by eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in sodium and alcohol. Discuss the importance of regular exercise, stress management, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking. Those with higher blood pressure may need to eliminate or reduce red meat and all saturated fats from their diet, in addition to taking doctor-prescribed medication.