A blood pressure cuff and stethoscope are pieces of medical equipment used to take blood pressure readings. Stethoscopes are also used to listen to heart and lung sounds in patients of all ages. Learning to use a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope takes some practice, while learning to understand what you’ve heard may require additional training.
Step 1
Place the blood pressure cuff on the arm, approximately an inch above the elbow. Avoid putting a blood pressure cuff on an arm that has an injury, or an arm that has a medical device such as a shunt or an IV placed in it. People who have had a breast removed should not have blood pressure taken on that side.
Step 2
Inflate the blood pressure cuff at least 20 points higher than the last blood pressure reading. For example, if the blood pressure was 120/80 at the last check, inflate the cuff to at least 140. To do this, tighten the screw on the bulb which is attached to the cuff. Squeeze the bulb quickly until the needle on the attached gauge reaches the desired number.
Step 3
Insert the stethoscope into your ears. Some stethoscopes are designed to be anatomically correct. With these stethoscopes, the metal tubes will be curved. Hold the stethoscope so that the ear pieces point away from you, then insert them into your ears. If there is no curve to the tubes, the stethoscope may be used either way.
Step 4
Place the flat part of the stethoscope, or the diaphragm, over the brachial artery which is located in the bend of the elbow. Carefully loosen the screw on the bulb to allow the cuff to deflate slowly while listening with your stethoscope.
Step 5
Watch the gauge as the cuff deflates. Make a mental note of the number you see when you first begin to hear the pulse in the brachial artery. Make a second note of the last number you see when the sound of the pulse fades away. These numbers comprise the blood pressure. The first number is the systolic and is the larger of the two numbers. The second number is the diastolic and is smaller. After you have these numbers, finish deflating the cuff and remove from the arm.
Step 6
Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope on the chest or back to listen for heart and lung sounds. This is best accomplished in a quiet room. The heart is located on the left side of the chest. Lung sounds can be heard on the upper half of the chest and back, and may require deep breaths to be taken to fully hear the inhalation and exhalation.
Tips and Warnings
- If you have any questions about blood pressure, or the sounds you hear when listening with the stethoscope, consult with your medical provider.
Things You'll Need
- Blood pressure cuff
- Stethoscope
