When evaluating the blood pressure of an older adult,the nurse needs to know that

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Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the circulating volume of blood on the walls of the arteries and veins.Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures tend to rise in the older adult because of the loss of elasticity in the arteries.The arterial system becomes increasingly rigid as the blood vessels become fibrotic.A decrease in the diastolic pressure is seen more frequently in older adults with risk factors for hypotension.Blood pressure is not related to heart rate or cardiac output.In the older adult the resting heart rate remains constant,but maximal heart rate declines.The aorta becomes dilated and the arteries become rigid with aging; however,these changes do not make the blood pressure more difficult to measure accurately.

When Evaluating the Blood Pressure of an Older Adult,the Nurse