How to measure blood pressure

blood pressure

Blood is pumped every time the heart beats through the arteries, which in turn transport blood to all parts of the body. Therefore, blood pressure can be defined as a measure of pressure or force inside the arteries in every heartbeat, ^[1] and the amount of blood pressure is expressed in two numbers, one of which is known as systolic blood pressure , which is the first number, which indicates the amount of pressure that the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries when the heart beats, and the second number is known as the diastolic blood pressure, which expresses the amount of pressure that affects its blood on the walls of the arteries in the rest period between the heart pulses, ^[2] it should be noted that blood pressure in the normal state does not exceed the value of 120/80 mm Hg, and not less than 90/60 mm Hg. ^[3]

To learn more about blood pressure, read the following article: ( What is blood pressure ) .

How to measure blood pressure

It may be difficult to measure blood pressure accurately if you do not have the appropriate equipment for this, such as using a rubber band to measure blood pressure. Accurate blood pressure measurement is necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure , so it is preferable in most cases to buy a blood pressure monitor, or visit a doctor Or the pharmacy to measure pressure, and it must be noted that there is a set of techniques and procedures that have been developed in order to obtain more accurate readings of blood pressure, such as the need to take several blood pressure readings to ensure their accuracy, given the influence of many factors on blood pressure and the cause of its change, ^{[4] [5]}As for the preference for using one arm over the other to obtain more accuracy in measurement, many studies have been conducted to determine the normal difference between using the right or left arm to measure pressure, and in general, the difference that does not exceed the value of 10 mm Hg in blood pressure is considered normal and does not cause concern. ^[6]

Mercury blood pressure monitor

The amount of blood pressure can be obtained using a manual blood pressure monitor that consists of an inflatable rubber strap, a blood pressure monitor, a squeezable rubber ball, and a stethoscope, and it is worth mentioning that there are two different types of manual blood pressure measuring devices, one of which is mercury (Mercury sphygmomanometers) and the wireless one . The principle of these two devices is the same way, except that wireless blood pressure meters need periodic calibration, ^{[7] and the} use of these equipment requires the ability and coordination of the individual, so it is difficult to use them in In the event of a hearing or vision impairment, or in the event of the inability to perform the hand movements necessary to inflate the rubber band, and in the following is an explanation of the mechanism of using manual pressure measuring tools: ^[8]

• Wrap the rubber band around the upper part of the arm directly over the skin, so it is 2.5 cm above the elbow bend, with the need to tighten the elastic band around the arm so that only two fingers can be passed under the upper edge of it, and make sure that the skin is not exposed to the disc when inflating the rubber band.
• Place the stethoscope dial under the elastic band on the inner side of the upper arm, face down.
• Place the earpiece part in the ears, so that it is facing forward towards the front of the nose, with the scale being placed in the palm of the arm on which the rubber band is wrapped, so that the palm of the hand is open, and in this way the individual can see the scale clearly.
• Rapidly squeezing the ball with the other hand until the gauge reading becomes 30 times higher than the normal systolic pressure reading , after which the ball is stopped squeezing, so the handle opens by moving it counterclockwise and allowing the air to escape slowly.
• Listen to the heartbeat and allow the pressure to drop by 2 mm per second, and note the reading when you hear the heartbeat for the first time through the stethoscope, which is known as systolic blood pressure.
• Note the diastolic pressure, which is the value at which the heartbeat noises begin to sound .

To learn more about how to measure blood pressure using the mercury device, read the following article: ( Method for measuring blood pressure with the mercury device ) .

Portable digital arm blood pressure monitors

The following steps should be taken to measure blood pressure with digital arm sphygmomanometers: ^[9]

• Sit up straight in the chair with your feet flat on the floor and the back against the back of the chair.
• Put the arm on the table, if any, and make sure that the hand and arm are relaxed on it, and avoid clenching the fist while measuring blood pressure .
• Wrap the elastic band around the upper part of the arm tightly, so that only two fingers can pass under it. Be careful that the tubes of the device are below the center of the arm or tilted slightly to the right.
• The power button is pressed to start measuring, followed by automatic inflation of the rubber band. ^[10]
• Notice that air comes out of the rubber band automatically and slowly. ^[10]
• Looking at the display for a blood pressure reading, it shows the amount of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. ^[10]
• Pressing the button allows all the air to be deflated from the rubber band. ^[10]
• Waiting 2-3 minutes before trying again if it is necessary to repeat the measurement again. ^[10]

Digital Portable Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

These devices can be switched on by simply pressing the start button, so the blood pressure is read automatically depending on the change in the volume of blood inside the arteries, as the handheld digital blood pressure monitor is placed on the wrist, finger or the upper part of the arm, but it is often placed on the wrist And in this case, the hand must be kept at one level with the heart to ensure that the pressure readings are not affected, and in fact digital measuring devices sometimes lack accuracy and their readings are unreliable, and this happens in special cases, such as: the presence of certain disorders in the heart rhythm, Or in the case of atherosclerosis . ^[11]

Mobile blood pressure monitor

In some cases, the doctor recommends monitoring blood pressure within 24 hours, or what is known as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, which helps to give a clear picture of how blood pressure changes during the day, and to achieve this, a cuffed pressure measuring device is used Carry it to the waist area, and its task is to automatically measure blood pressure every half an hour within 24 hours, and you must continue to practice normal daily activities during the test, with the need to avoid getting the device wet. ^[12]

How to choose a pressure gauge

A digital or manual blood pressure monitor can be used to measure blood pressure at home, and here lies the importance of choosing the appropriate type of device that best meets the individual's need, and to achieve this, a set of features must be considered when choosing a blood pressure monitor, and in the following an explanation of some of them: ^[10]

• Size: Choosing the correct size of the cuff or rubber band is a very necessary thing that must be taken into account when purchasing a blood pressure monitor, due to the effect of blood pressure readings on the size of the rubber band, these readings may be wrong if the size is not appropriate, and in fact The choice of the size of the elastic band depends mainly on the size of the individual's arm undergoing the manometry. To help find the appropriate size, the doctor, pharmacist or nurse can be used. ^{[10] In} general, the appropriate width of the cloth tape usually covers two thirds of the upper part of the arm. It is sufficient to completely encircle the circumference of the arm, so the larger cloth tape is used in the case of having muscles in the arm or in the event of suffering from excess weight , ^[13]The following is an explanation of how to choose the appropriate rubber band size based on knowledge of the arm circumference, which can be measured with the help of a health care provider: ^[14]

• Price: The cost of a home blood pressure meter may be a major factor affecting the selection of the most appropriate device for an individual, it may be necessary to search the market for the best prices for blood pressure gauges due to the variety and difference in their prices. Pressure, sometimes the device is expensive and does not have a preference for use or increase in the accuracy of the measurement. ^[10]
• Display: the numbers displayed on the device must be easy to read. ^[10]
• Sound: A person should hear the sound of the heartbeat through a stethoscope. ^[10]

It should be noted that some tests showed the sensitivity of the devices that are placed on the wrist or finger to the temperature of the body and the site in which they are placed, which results in an imbalance in blood pressure measurements and their inaccuracy, in addition to the fact that these devices are very expensive, ^[10] so the association recommends The American Heart Association avoids using finger and wrist devices to measure blood pressure, while recommending the use of an automatic device equipped with a rubber band, which is placed in the upper part of the arm, and in fact when choosing a blood pressure monitor for the elderly or pregnant womenOr children, you must make sure that it is appropriate and can be adopted in these cases, and in all cases it is recommended to bring the blood pressure monitor after purchasing it in the first appointment with the doctor, as the doctor helps to verify the correctness of the individual's use of the pressure measuring device, and that the results of the pressure measurement match the results that are made Obtaining it from the equipment that the doctor uses in his clinic, and it is advisable to bring the device to the doctor once a year to make sure of the accuracy of the readings. ^[6]

Tips and advice for getting accurate results

There are many reasons that may lead to an imbalance in measuring blood pressure and obtaining an inaccurate pressure reading, and these reasons include wrapping the rubber band over the clothes, the small size of this tape, and crossed legs during the pressure measurement , lack of support for the back and feet, and speaking while taking Reading the pressure, placing the arm in an area that is above or below the level of the heart, and not resting for 3-5 minutes before taking the measurements, ^[15] so there is a set of tips and instructions that contribute to getting an accurate reading of blood pressure, including the following: ^[16]

• Sit in a quiet place while taking the pressure.
• Relax and remain in a comfortable position while taking a blood pressure measurement, making sure that your bladder has emptied recently. Because blood pressure readings are affected if the bladder is full.
• Lift the sleeve off the arm or remove clothing with narrow sleeves.
• Resting in a chair next to a table for 5-10 minutes.
• Placing the arm comfortably at the same level as the heart, and placing the forearm on the table with the palm still up, with the importance of sitting upright so that the back is attached to the chair and the legs are not crossed.
• Avoid speech or exposure to any distraction, such as watching television, checking a cell phone, or following anything else while taking a blood pressure test , as it is advised to relax only. ^{[13] [17]}
• Avoid taking a blood pressure reading after drinking caffeine or tobacco in the last 30 minutes, or in the case of recent exercise, or while feeling stressed. ^[18]
• Avoid checking your blood pressure while in a cold room. ^[5]

The best time to measure blood pressure

Blood pressure measurements vary throughout the day and around the clock as a result of hormonal changes, eating foods, and engaging in various activities. Doctors usually recommend measuring blood pressure twice a day in the morning and evening, taking into account measuring it in the morning before eating foods or drugs that may affect its readings and cause an increase in blood pressure, and in In this context, it is worth noting the importance of taking 2-3 readings every time blood pressure is measured in order to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the measurement, and in fact it is necessary to make sure that the times of measuring blood pressure are appropriate for the different activities that the individual performs during the day, in order to maintain a routine Specific and constant in which the individual can measure blood pressure at the specified and correct times ^{[19] [20]}

To learn more about the best time to measure blood pressure, read the following article: (The best time to measure blood pressure ) .

References

1. ↑ "Blood Pressure" , clevelandclinic , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
2. ↑ "Understanding Blood Pressure Readings" , heart , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
3. ↑ "Blood pressure chart" , bloodpressureuk , Retrieved 4-28-2020. Edited.
4. ↑ "Proper Technique for Blood Pressure Measurement" , verywellhealth , Retrieved 4-28-2020. Edited.
5. ^ ^{A b} , Jon Johnson, "How To Do Your Own You lands check by blood Pressure?" , Medicalnewstoday , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
6. ^ ^{A b} " the Monitoring Your Blood Pressure At Menu Home" , heart 's , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
7. ↑ "Sphygmomanometer" , www.practicalclinicalskills.com , Retrieved 4-28-2020. Edited.
8. ↑ "Video: How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor" , mayoclinic , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
9. ↑ "How to choose a blood pressure monitor and measure your blood pressure at home" , bhf , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
10. ^ ^{A b t w c h x d y t g} "Blood Pressure At the Monitoring Menu Home" , Familydoctor , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
11. ↑ "What is blood pressure and how is it measured?" , ncbi , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
12. ↑ "Blood pressure test" , nhs , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
13. ^ ^{A b} "How To To Measure by blood Pressure Monitors Digital Using the Script - Video" , Chp , Retrieved 28-4-2020. Edited.
14. ↑ "Measuring Blood Pressure" , med , Retrieved 29-4-2020. Edited.
15. ↑ "Training Staff to Accurately Measure Blood Pressure" , mainehealth , Retrieved 4-29-2020. Edited.
16. ↑ "Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home" , webmd , Retrieved 4-29-2020. Edited.
17. ↑ Angela Price, "Blood pressure monitoring: Home is where your true BP numbers live" , utswmed , Retrieved 4-29-2020. Edited.
18. ↑ "Blood pressure measurement" , ufhealth , Retrieved 29-4-2020. Edited.
19. ↑ "The Best Time to Take Your Blood Pressure" , www.verywellhealth.com , Retrieved 4-29-2020. Edited.
20. ↑ "Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring" , www.nchmd.org , Retrieved 4-29-2020. Edited.