Blood pressure Measurement

Question 1

What are we measuring and why?

Answer 1

blood pressure in the amount of pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries as the blood moves through them (mmHg).

screen for hypertension, assessing a persons suitability for sport and certain occupations, estimate CV and medical procedures risk.

Question 2

What is diastolic and systolic pressure?

Answer 2

systolic is pressure in arteries when the heart beats

diastolic is pressure in arteries between heartbeats

Question 3

What shouldn’t be done 30 mins before testing?

Answer 3

no caffeine, smoking or exercising

Question 4

What are the contraindications and precautions?

Answer 4

no contraindications

precautions include vomiting, nausea, vertigo, open wounds and skin irritation, measuring in the arm in which arteriovenous fistula or lymphadema, and avoid taking in the same arm after breast cancer surgery. -ask these instead of contraindications.

Question 5

What should be done prior to the test?

Answer 5

get gender and age
top on with upper arm exposed
loose fitting clothes
rest 10 mins before test
pt arm flexed, relaxed and supported
elbow at level of heart
no talking or moving during

Question 6

What should be done after the test?

Answer 6

assess for any adverse effects

Question 7

How to carry out the procedure?

Answer 7

wrap cuff around upper arm with lower edge of cuff 2cm below antecubital fossa.

place stethoscope over brachial artery.

close valve on bulb and rapidly inflate cuff to 150 mmHg (dont inflate to more than this.)

release air from cuff at 2mm/sec, listen with stethoscope, observing manometer.

the first knocking sound that you hear is the systolic pressure, when the knocking sound disappears thats diastolic pressure.

repeat 2 times and wait at least 30 secs between measurements.

Question 8

What is a high or low BP?

Answer 8

top number (systolic) is 140 or more (high)

bottom number (dialostic) is 90 or more (high)

top number (systolic) is 90 or less (low)

bottom number (diastolic) is 60 or less (low)

any of these makes it a high/low BP even if the other value is in range

Question 9

What is a dangerous BP that require s immediate action?

Answer 9

180/120 mmHg

Question 10

What should be done with the test results?

Answer 10

record systolic and diastolic pressure, subjects position and what arm was used

In clinical practice the first measurement may be disregarded and average of the last two is recorded.

If hypertension is found, then lowest of last 2 of 3 is recorded.