Detailed Explanation of the Correct Steps and Key Precautions for Measuring Blood Pressure
Do you know how to measure blood pressure? The most widely used method for measuring blood pressure is using a cuff to compress a blood vessel. When inflating, once the pressure inside the cuff exceeds the systolic pressure, the blood vessel is compressed, blocking blood flow, and the arterial pulsation cannot be heard distal to the vessel. After deflation, when the pressure inside the cuff is lower than the systolic pressure, the blood vessel opens, blood flow resumes, and an arterial pulsation is produced. The pressure inside the cuff at the first arterial pulsation sound (auscultation sound) is the systolic pressure. Continuing to deflate, when the pressure inside the cuff is lower than the diastolic pressure, the blood vessel is completely open, blood flow is no longer blocked, and the arterial pulsation disappears. The pressure inside the cuff at this point is the diastolic pressure.
Because blood pressure measurement is affected by many external factors, the following points should be considered for accurate measurement:
Choose a suitable blood pressure monitor: The most commonly used are mercury sphygmomanometers, barometric sphygmomanometers, and electronic blood pressure monitors. The width of the blood pressure monitor cuff should cover 2/3 of the upper arm length, and the cuff length should reach 2/3 of the upper arm circumference. If the cuff is too narrow, the measured blood pressure will be too high; if the cuff is too long, the measured blood pressure will be too low.
Choose a suitable measurement environment: The patient should rest for 5-10 minutes in a quiet, appropriately warm environment. The sleeve should not be excessively constricting the arm. Avoid measuring blood pressure under stress conditions such as a full bladder, smoking, exposure to cold, or after drinking coffee.
The patient should be seated with the upper arm being measured exposed, palm extended upwards, elbow at heart level. The distance between the antecubital space and the lower edge of the cuff should be 2-3 cm. Inflate until the arterial pulsation disappears, then add another 30 mmHg.
This is the maximum inflation level. Excessive inflation will result in excessively high systolic blood pressure. Inflation to 300 mmHg will lead to "inflatable hypertension." Then gradually deflate at a rate of 2 mmHg/second. The first auscultation sound is the systolic blood pressure, and the disappearance of the pulsation sound is the diastolic blood pressure. The inflation time should not be too long, otherwise it will create a false impression of elevated blood pressure.
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