Blood pressure refers to the measure of force against your blood vessel walls. Sometimes this pressure can be high or low. According to Medline Plus, blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumping through your body and the flexibility and size of your blood vessels. Blood pressure readings consist of a systolic and diastolic blood pressure reading. Systolic is the force in your blood vessels when your heart contracts; diastolic is the force in your blood vessels when your heart relaxes. For example, your blood pressure may be 120/80 mmHg. The top number is your systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is your diastolic blood pressure. If you want to take your blood pressure, there are specific steps to using a manual monitor.
Step 1
Sit with your feet on the floor and your right arm stretched out above the level of your heart with your palm facing up.
Step 2
Place the inflatable cuff around your right arm 1 inch above your elbow. Make sure the cuff is securely fastened around your right arm.
Step 3
Put the stethoscope earpieces into your ears and make sure the earpieces are facing forward.
Step 4
Place the circular portion of the stethoscope in the bend of your right elbow. This is where your brachial artery (blood vessel of your arm) is located. Do not let go. You can tuck the stethoscope underneath the inflatable cuff for convenience because it is also overlapping the bend of your elbow. Listen for a pulsating sound, as this will ensure you have found the brachial artery. If you don't hear this sound, adjust the stethoscope along the bend of your right elbow until you hear this sound.
Step 5
Hold the gauge of the blood pressure monitor in the palm of your right hand so that you can clearly see the numbers.
Step 6
Hold the rubber bulb in your left hand and squeeze it to inflate the cuff. Look at the blood pressure gauge and continue to squeeze the rubber bulb until the needle on the gauge is at 200.
Step 7
Stop pumping the rubber bulb and turn the silver dial adjacent to the bulb so that the cuff slowly deflates. Make sure the needle on the blood pressure gauge moves 2 increments per second. Do not deflate the blood pressure cuff too fast.
Step 8
Listen for the beating sounds on your stethoscope and pay attention to the corresponding measurements on the gauge. When you hear the first pulsating sound, note the number on the gauge. This is your systolic blood pressure. After hearing the first pulsating sound, you will continue to hear a succession of pulsating sounds. Wait until you hear the last sound and note the number on the gauge. This is your diastolic blood pressure.
Things You'll Need
- Stethoscope
