The arm being used should be relaxed uncovered and supported at the level of the heart.
Blood pressure measurement technique.
It is measured in millimeters of mercury mmhg above the surrounding atmospheric pressure.
However with the benefits that automated bp devices provide with a repeatable standardized technique and removal of observer bias there has been a shift towards automated devices in clinical practice.
The inflatable part of the cuff should completely cover at least 80 of your upper arm and the cuff should be placed on bare skin not over a shirt.
2 measure blood pressure and pulse rate.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a noninvasive automated process that records blood pressure over an extended period.
Evaluation of blood pressure is essential in assessing cardiovascular health.
As most readers probably know the typical method for blood pressure measurement has long been the manual auscultatory technique with a mercury column or mechanical aneroid sphygmomanometer.
Separate repeated measurements by 1 2 minutes.
In general blood pressure should be measured while you are seated comfortably.
Blood pressure values are generally reported in millimetres of mercury mmhg though aneroid and electronic devices do not contain mercury.
During the measurement sit in a chair with your feet on the floor and your arm supported so your elbow is at about heart level.
Proper positioning is vital in obtaining accurate blood pressure readings.
Typically readings are taken every 15 to 30 minutes for 24 hours.
4 repeat blood pressure and pulse rate measurements after standing 1 and 3 minutes.
3 have the patient stand.
Don t talk during the measurement.
If you use the auscultation method prefer a palpated estimate of radial pulse obliteration pressure to estimate sbp.
Arterial blood pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer which historically used the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure.
Inflate the cuff 20 30 mm hg above this level to determine bp.
It is used in screening for hypertension and for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment in patients with.
