Blood pressure practical

Question 1

What is blood pressure?

Answer 1

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood against the arterials walls of the cardiovascular system.

Blood pressure is expressed in a two-number format:

Systolic blood pressure: the highest pressure exerted during systole
Diastolic blood pressure: the lowest pressure exerted during diastole

Question 2

What is blood pressure measured in?

Answer 2

mmHg

Question 3

What is Systolic blood pressure?

Answer 3

the highest pressure exerted during systole

Question 4

What is Diastolic blood pressure?

Answer 4

the lowest pressure exerted during diastole

Question 5

What causes hypertension?

Answer 5

There are many causes of hypertension, these include:

Stress
Recent exercise
Sedentary lifestyle
Age (risk increases with age)
Diet (excessive salt intake)
Caffeine intake
Smoking/ Obesity
Environment (white-coat shock)
Atheroma

Question 6

What is the prognosis of hypertension?

Answer 6

Hypertension increases the risk of many diseases, including:

Stroke
Vascular dementia
Peripheral arterial disease
Coronary artery disease

For every 2 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure, there is a 10% increase risk of mortality from stroke!

Question 7

What is the gold standard for measuring blood pressure?

Answer 7

Intra-arterial blood pressure (often radial or brachial)

Question 8

What is the Blood Pressure Examination Procedure?

Answer 8

Ensure the patient has been rested for at least 5 minutes, explain the procedure and gain consent.

With the patient seated, wrap the blood pressure adjustable cuff around the patient’s upper arm, lining up the cuff marker with the brachial artery
You should be able to place two fingers under the cuff (ensuring a tight fit)

Palpate the radial pulse and inflate the blood pressure cuff until the pulse disappears
Note this reading (this is the estimated systolic blood pressure) and deflate the cuff

Place the stethoscope over the brachial artery and re-inflate the
cuff +30 mmHg above the estimated systolic pressure.

5. Slowly deflate the cuff and listen for the Korotkoff sound
   The first audible sound is the systolic blood pressure
   The final audible sound is the diastolic blood pressure
6. Record your findings