How Do You Take Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure basically is the pressure exercised by the blood at particular angles of the blood vessels.

The non-invasive ausculatory process is the most widespread way of monitoring a patient's blood pressure. The patient whose blood pressure has to be measured lies or sits down and rests their limb on the table so that the brachial artery is parallel to the heart. This is vital when monitoring blood pressure because pressure is relative to height, the systolic pressure readings will be roughly 35mm Hg less in comparison to readings taken at the level of the heart. On the other hand at ground height the pressure reading will be nearly 100mm Hg greater.

When taking pressure a sphygmomanometer cuff is wrapped around the person's upper arm, slightly above the elbow. A stethoscope is positioned on the hollow end of the elbow. Then the cuff is pumped-up to a pressure of approximately 180mmHg, squeezing the brachial artery and causing the artery to subside once the systolic pressure has been surpassed. Now slowly the valve of the pump is loosened so that the pressure of the sphygmomanometer cuff is decreased. Now the brachial artery is opened up, resulting in volatile blood flow which in turn results in vibration against the artery walls. The sound created by this is known as Korotkoff sounds and is easily heard via the stethoscope. These sound or vibrations help determine the blood pressure.

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