Blood Pressure

Question 1

What is systolic pressure e.g. 120?

Answer 1

The force that the heart pumps the blood around the body

Question 2

What is the diastolic pressure e.g. 80?

Answer 2

The pressure when the heart is resting between beats

Question 3

What is an average blood pressure reading?

Answer 3

120/80

Question 4

Why do we measure and monitor a woman’s blood pressure?

Answer 4

• BP Is part of ANC offered to women
• Included in baseline observations
• BP helps detect any deviations from the norm
• BP is document in the MEWS charts, In pregnancy notes and monitored at intervals

Question 5

What is the name for a high blood pressure reading?

Give an example of a high reading

Answer 5

Hypertension e.g. 140/90 mmHg

Question 6

What can cause a high BP reading?

Answer 6

Smoking and alcohol
Being overweight
Lack of exercise
Pain or anxiety

Question 7

What symptoms may a women experience as a result of high BP?

Answer 7

Headaches
Heart disease
Stroke
Kidney disease
Preeclampsia

Question 8

What is the name for a low blood pressure reading?

Give an example of a low reading

Answer 8

Hypotension e.g. 90/60 mmHg

Question 9

What can cause a low blood pressure reading?

Answer 9

Dehydration
Certain medications
Heart problems

Question 10

What may a low BP indicate?

Answer 10

Low BP is less common but can be an indication that a woman is becoming unwell. She may not be showing symptoms but will need treatment

Question 11

Discuss the pregnancy related changes to BP

Answer 11

Trimester 1 - BP falls by 5-10mmHg

Trimester 3 - BP increases to the normal rate

Question 12

Why does BP change during pregnancy?

Answer 12

Increased blood volumne
Increased cardiac output
changes to the heart rate and blood viscosity
Hormonal changes - progesterone acts on smooth muscle
Impaired venous return due to gravid uterus

Question 13

What must be done before the procedure?

Answer 13

Gain consent
Follow hand hygiene and infection control
Don appropriate PPE
Check equipment
Check/encourage woman to empty her bladder
Ensure she is comfortable and legs are uncrossed

Question 14

What is blood pressure?

Answer 14

The force exerted by the blood on the blood vessel walls

Question 15

What is the procedure for taking BP

Answer 15

Position arm palm upwards at heart level
Remove tight of restrictive clothing
Use correct size cuff that covers 80% of the upper arm
Apply cuff snugly with the bladder lined up 2-3cm over the brachial artery
Check valve is closed and palpate radial pulse
Inflate cuff until radial pulse can no longer be felt
Deflate quickly and make note of where pulse disappeared
Inflate cuff by 30mmHg more than palpated systolic
Position stethoscope over brachial artery using fingers
X do not place stethoscope under the cuff
Deflate the cuff at 2-3 mmHg per second
Listen for systolic when 2 clear repetitive beats can be heard (K1)
Diastolic pressure is when the beats can no longer be heard (use K4 is K5 continues to zero)
Deflate cuff and remove
Ensure woman’s comfort
Record results and clean equipment