HR & blood pressure measurement

Question 1

heart rate

Answer 1

index + middle fingers on inside of wrist lateral to flexor muscles / neck beside trachea / dorsal foot lateral to EHL, distal to navicular
count beats per min / x2 after 30sec
check for adverse effects

Question 2

blood pressure

Answer 2

patient positioned with arm at level of heart
sphygmomanometer cuff around upper arm, arrow pointing at brachial artery, lower edge is inch below elbow, attach pressure gauge, close valve, pump air into cuff to 150mmHg, stethoscope over brachial artery/medial elbow, slightly open valve, when 1st pulse sound is heard read systolic pressure, continue releasing air, at no pulse sound read diastolic pressure
record
repeat x3, cuff deflates fully + 30sec in between

Question 3

precautions

Answer 3

vomiting, nausea, vertigo
open wounds
lymphadema
arm after breast cancer

Question 4

purpose

Answer 4

HR
indicates general fitness & wellbeing, exercise intensity needed in sport programmes
tachycardia - high, from anxiety
bradycardia - low, from hypothyroidism
BP
screening for hypertension (not enough blood to organs/angina), assess suitability for sport/occupations, CV status, medical procedures risk

Question 5

principles

Answer 5

rests for 10mins prior
not anxious, no caffeine, no exercise
comfortably seated, elbow at heart level
no tight clothing, arm exposed

Question 6

structures

Answer 6

Measures the number of times you heart completes a full cycle and pumps blood around the body, bpm.
radial artery in wrist

Measures the amount of pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries as the blood moves through them, mmHg.
use a stethoscope on the brachial artery

Question 7

how to know if normal

Answer 7

know average HR/BP for age
60-100bpm
90/60mmHg - 120/80mmHg

may vary dependent on age, stress, fitness, medication

note any irregularities in strength/rhythm of HR