How to Measure Blood Pressure? | Blood Pressure Measurement

The blood pressure measurement method has discussed in the following:

Requirements:
To measure blood pressure the following instruments have to require-

• Sphygmomanometer,
• Stethoscope.

Blood Pressure Measurement Methods:

All the process of blood pressure measurement have explained below in step by step-

• The subject should be physically and mentally relaxed, free from excitement.
• The subject should lie down or sit comfortably. If he sites, he should place the arm on a table at the level of the heart.
• The “zero” of the sphygmomanometer and the cuff should be at the level of the heart.
• The arm is exposed up to the shoulder.
• The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm just above the elbow (The middle of the cuff lies over the brachial artery).
• The brachial artery is palpated in the cubital fossa, just medial to the tendon of the biceps brachii muscle, a little below the cuff.
• The radial artery is palpated at the wrist by placing the middle three fingers over it.
• The cuff is rapidly inflated by the hand pump, raising the pressure 30mmHg above the level at which the radial pulsation disappears.
• The diaphragm of the stethoscope is placed lightly on the brachial artery and then the pressure in the cuff is gradually lowered using the release valve, keeping the earpieces of the stethoscope in the ears.
• As the pressure is lowered slowly (2mm/sec), at a particular level in the mercury column, a tapping sound is heard. The level at which the sound is first heard is regarded as systolic pressure.
• The pressure in the cuff is further reduced gradually and the character of the sound changes; and finally, at a particular level the sound disappears. The level at which the sound disappears is regarded as the diastolic pressure.
• The cuff is deflated and the procedure is repeated three times.

Observation:

Result:
Systolic blood pressure: 120mmHg,
Diastolic blood pressure: 80mmHg,
Age of the person: 24 years.

Comment:
The blood pressure of the person is within the normal physiological limit.

Precautions:
It includes-

• The subject should be mentally and physically relaxed.
• The size of the cuff should be proportionate to the circumference of the arm of the subject.
• The arm, with the cuff wrapped around it, should be at the level of the heart to avoid the influence of gravity.
• The zero levels of mercury should be checked.
• The cuff should not be left inflated for excess time, because the discomfort may cause generalized vasoconstriction that results in higher blood pressure.
• The pulse rate should be checked at the same time because blood pressure is affected to some extent by the heart rate.
• The cuff pressure should be decreased to zero levels between the successive measurements of blood pressure.
• While taking the reading, the eye should be at the level of the mercury column to avoid parallax.
• If coarctation of the aorta is suspected, blood pressure should also be recorded in the thigh.