Blood pressure

Blood pressure:   It is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels as the blood flows through them. There are 2 types of blood pressure. Systolic and Diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the highest degree of pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels during the ventricular systole when the ventricle is forcing the blood into the Aorta. Normal systolic pressure in adult is 120 mm of Hg.

Diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure that occurs when the heart is in its resting period just before the contraction of the left ventricle. Normal diastolic pressure is 80mm of Hg.

       Normal Blood pressure – 120/80 mm of Hg

Instructions before checking blood pressure

Do not take blood pressure reading on a patient’s arm if;

·        The arm has an intravenous infusion  on it

·        The arm is injured or diseased.

·        The arm has a shunt or fistula for the renal dialysis

Articles needed for  checking blood pressure

Articles	Quantity	Purpose
Sphygmomanometer	1	To check Blood pressure
Stethoscope	1	To listen the brachial pulse

Procedure of blood pressure

·         Wash hand neatly and keep the equipment near bedside

·         Tie deflated cuff over the brachial artery.( the lower edge being 2 inch above the knee joint. The two rubber tubes turning towards the palm.

·         Place the bell of the stethoscope on the brachial artery.

·         Close the valve on the pump by turning the knob clockwise. Pump the cuff to 140 to 160 mm of Hg.

·         Open the valve slowly. Note the number on the manometer where the sound first starts. This pressure is systolic pressure.

·         Continue to release the valve until the sounds stops. Note that reading and that is called diastolic pressure.

·         Open the valve fully and untie the cuff from the arms. Deflate the cuff and keep it in shelf.