Blood pressure cuff alias sphygmomanometer is the apparatus used to monitor blood pressure. Since it is a manual gadget, it includes a rubber-inflating holder with a fixed air stopcock, a limb cuff, and an inbuilt stethoscope used for auscultation. Conversely, not all types come with a stethoscope, at times one has to purchase it independently, not forgetting a control scale. The control scale has a needle that oscillates clockwise when the cuff is puffed up, and anti-clockwise once the cuff is collapsed, which afterward offers you the readings for your blood pressure measurement. Following are apt steps to consider when learning how to take blood pressure with cuff.
Choose the right equipment
To know how to take blood pressure with cuff you will need:
• A fitting sized blood pressure cuff
• Blood pressure monitor like an aneroid, mercury column sphygmomanometer, or an automatic
gadget with a manual inflate feature
• A superior stethoscope
Prepare the patient
Ensure the subject is relaxed; allow the patient about 5 minutes to unwind prior taking the initial
measurements. Position the patient in an upright pose with the upper limb placed the same level as the
heart and feet flat on the surface.
Choose the proper BP cuff size
How is blood pressure taken with a cuff? Now, enfold the cuff around the patient’s limb with the help
of the index streak to establish whether the arm’s perimeter is to the limited extent. If not, select the
fitting tinier or bigger cuff.
Enfold the BP cuff on the patient’s arm
Palpate the brachial artery and place the BP cuff so that the artery indicator aims to the brachial blood
vessel. Enfold the BP cuff tightly around the upper arm.
Inflate the BP cuff
Commence inflating the cuff bulb listening to the thump sounds. After you have pumped the BP cuff
adequately to stop blood flow, no sounds should be heard via the stethoscope. The scale should
read around 30 to 40 mm Hg beyond the patient’s usual blood pressure readings. In case you do not
recognize this reading, you can puff up the cuff to around 160 to 180 mmHg.
Slowly deflate the BP cuff
Start deflating. The pressure should escape at 2-3 mmHg per second, a faster rate might probably bring
about a vague reading. This is, however, an important stage for anyone learning how to take blood
pressure with cuff.
Listen to the Systolic Reading
The initial event of rhythmic sounds one hears as blood commences to thrust in the artery is the
patient’s systolic pressure. It may be similar to a pitter-patter noise in the beginning.
Listen to the diastolic reading
Go on listening as the Blood Pressure cuff pressure falls and the sounds disappear. Take note of the
scale readings after the rhythmic sounds halts. This is the diastolic pressure reading.
Double check for Accuracy
Take a reading on both limbs and calculate the average of the readings. To inspect the pressure once
more for correctness, delay about five minutes prior to taking another reading. Normally, blood
pressure is higher during the morning hour and lower at sunset. If the blood pressure reading is a
distress or white coat hypertension probability is noticed, a 24-hour blood pressure examination may be
needed to evaluate the person’s general blood pressure précis.