Blood Pressure Measurement

Question 1

What are the parts of a stethoscope?

Answer 1

bell
diaphragm
ear pieces

Question 2

What is the procedure of taking a blood pressure measurement?

Answer 2

1) Wrap the BP cuff tightly around the arm of a seated participant

2)Place the stethoscope diaphragm on the cubital fossa of the arm, where the brachial artery is located, and place the earpieces in your ears.

3) Inflate the BP cuff to a value of approximately 180 mmHg and then deflate slowly.

4) Listen for the Korotkoff sounds using the earpieces. These are soft-tapping sounds that occur due to turbulent blood flow.

5) The first soft tapping sound = systolic blood pressure

6) When the sounds disappear = diastolic blood pressure

7) Completely deflate the BP cuff and then remove it from the participant.

Question 3

Where do you place the stethoscope to measure blood pressure?

Answer 3

cubital fossa of the arm

Question 4

What is located in the cubital fossa of the arm?

Answer 4

brachial artery

Question 5

What value do you want to inflate the BP cuff to?

Answer 5

approximately 180 mmHg- then deflate it slowly

Question 6

What sound are you trying to hear?

Answer 6

The korotkoff sound

Question 7

What does the korotkoff sound sound like?

Answer 7

soft-tapping sounds

Question 8

When do you know the systolic blood pressure?

Answer 8

first soft tapping sound

Question 9

When do you know the diastolic blood pressure?

Answer 9

when the sound disappears

Question 10

What helps with hearing the sound?

Answer 10

Deflating the cuff slowly
Holding the stethoscope chest-piece steadily and firmly against the arm
Not moving the arm around
Making sure the ear-pieces are in correctly

Question 11

What does not help with hearing the korotkoff sound?

Answer 11

Deflating the cuff too fast or too slow
Holding the stethoscope chest-piece in the wrong place or in the incorrect configuration
Lots of movement
Lots of noise

Question 12

What are the symptoms of cardiovascular heart disease?

Answer 12

chest pain.
pain, weakness or numb legs and/or arms.
breathlessness.
very fast or slow heartbeat, or palpitations.
feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint.
fatigue.
swollen limbs.

Question 13

What are possible medications for CVD?

Answer 13

Blood-thinning medicines.
Statins.
Beta blockers.
Nitrates.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs)
Calcium channel blockers.
Diuretics.

Question 14

What are surgical methods/ non-invasive methods for treating CVD?

Answer 14

Angioplasty and stents
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Heart valve surgery
Pacemakers
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

Question 15

What are lifestyle changes to treat CVD?

Answer 15

Eat a healthy diet. Maintaining a heart healthy diet is key for preventing heart disease.
Exercise regularly.
Control your blood pressure.
Keep cholesterol under control.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Limit alcohol intake.
Don’t smoke.
Manage stress.