Blood Pressure Measurement Technique

Separate repeated measurements by 1 2 minutes.

Blood pressure measurement technique. If you use the auscultation method deflate the cuff pressure 2 mm hg per s and listen for korotkoff sounds. Arterial blood pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer which historically used the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure. It is used in screening for hypertension and for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment in patients with. During the measurement sit in a chair with your feet on the floor and your arm supported so your elbow is at about heart level.

Measuring orthostatic blood pressure a drop in bp of 20 mm hg or in diastolic bp of 10 mm hg or experiencing lightheadedness or dizziness is considered abnormal. Evaluation of blood pressure is essential in assessing cardiovascular health. The arm being used should be relaxed uncovered and supported at the level of the heart. However with the benefits that automated bp devices provide with a repeatable standardized technique and removal of observer bias there has been a shift towards automated devices in clinical practice.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a noninvasive automated process that records blood pressure over an extended period. Typically readings are taken every 15 to 30 minutes for 24 hours. 3 have the patient stand. 4 repeat blood pressure and pulse rate measurements after standing 1 and 3 minutes.

In general blood pressure should be measured while you are seated comfortably. It is measured in millimeters of mercury mmhg above the surrounding atmospheric pressure. 2 measure blood pressure and pulse rate. If you use the auscultation method prefer a palpated estimate of radial pulse obliteration pressure to estimate sbp.

Don t talk during the measurement. Inflate the cuff 20 30 mm hg above this level to determine bp. Blood pressure is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure maximum pressure during one heartbeat over diastolic pressure minimum pressure between two heartbeats in the cardiac cycle. The inflatable part of the cuff should completely cover at least 80 of your upper arm and the cuff should be placed on bare skin not over a shirt.