According to the American Heart Association, one in every three, or over 73 million Americans, have high blood pressure. Often called one of the silent killers, high blood pressure (also called hypertension) can be seriously advanced before it is detected. Along with obesity, high cholesterol, sedentary living, diabetes and cigarette smoking, hypertension is one one of the primary risk factors for heart disease. Until you've had your blood pressure measured in your doctor's office, you may not even be aware that you have it. It generally has no symptoms until one of its complications appears.
Step 1
Wrap the cuff of the sphygomanometer firmly around the patient's biceps. Be sure that it neither cuts off the blood circulation before inflation or is so loose that that it slips off of the arm.
Step 2
Place the ends of a stethoscope in your ear canals with the ends pointing forward. Press the large, flat head of the stethoscope over the patient's bracial artery at about the crease of the inside of the elbow.
Step 3
Close off the valve of the pressure bulb and rapidly inflate the pressure of the cuff until the pressure on the gauge reads over 200 mmHg.
Step 4
Loosen the valve on the pressure valve of the pressure bulb until air begins to escape from the cuff. Using the stethoscope, listen for the first sound of the blood flowing through the brachial artery and note the pressure on the valve. This is called the systolic blood pressure or the first Karotkoff sound.
Step 5
Continue releasing the air out of the pressure cuff, listening for the next sound of the blood swishing around inside the brachial artery with your stethescope. This is called the second Karotkoff sound or the auscultary gap.
Step 6
Listen for the resumption of "tapping" sounds as the blood begins to pound against the inside of the arterial walls. This is called the third Karotkoff sound.
Step 7
Listen and make a mental note of the resumption of the sounds of the blood pounding against the inside of the brachial artery. This is the diastolic pressure or the fourth Karotkoff sound.
Step 8
Listen for all of the sounds to cease as the blood begins to flow in the brachial artery. This is called the fifth Karotkoff sound and indicates that the blood flow of the brachial artery has been completely restored.
Step 9
Evaluate and record the blood pressure sounds you hear with the spygmomanometer and stethescope. The blood pressures are always recorded with the systolic blood pressure followed by a slash (/) and then the diastolic pressure (this is spoken as systolic "over" diastolic pressure). Pressures reading approximately 120/80 are considered normal. Pressures between 120 to 139/90 are considered pre-hypertension. Systolic pressures reading above 140 with a diastolic pressure higher than 100 are considered high and should be treated by a physician.
Tips and Warnings
- Wrap the inflatable cuff of the sphygmomanometer around the arm firmly. Press the head of the stethoscope over the brachial artery. Inflate the pressure over 200 and deflate at a normal rate.
- Do not try to re-inflate the cuff midway between the measurement. Do not apply the cuff too slowly.
Things You'll Need
- Sphygmomanometer
- Stethoscope
