BP Basics
How To Measure Blood Pressure With Sphygmomanometer
Blood pressure measurement through the
sphygmomanometer is one of the most common ways of monitoring blood
pressure. It requires a cuff, a bulb to inflate cuff, a valve to control
pressure and a stethoscope to listen to the korotkoff sound. There are
two types of sphygmomanometers.
a) Digital:- It is very easy to use, gives accurate reading and is
applicable to all sort of patients.
b) Manometric:- Although it is old fashioned, it is very precised. Now, in
some places, some devices that use mercury have been banned but
aneroid type is still in use.
While measuring blood pressure using this device you
have to wrap the cuff around your upper arm or your doctor you will do
the same for you. Remember your cuff should be placed around the upper
arm at roughly the same vertical height as your heart. Thereafter you
have to inflate the cuff by squeezing the rubber bulb. When the cuff is
inflated well and truly as per the requirement then you need to release
the pressure of the cuff very slowly while listening through the
stethoscope.
With the release of the pressure your blood will
start to pulse in your artery making a whooshing sound. The pressure at
which you hear the sound for the first time is called the systolic
pressure. The pressure at which you hear the last sound is known as the
diastolic pressure.
Your blood pressure is basically measured in
millimeters of mercury. Now after getting the measurement, you will have
to decide whether it is normal or not. For this, I tell you, 120/80 mmHg
is considered to be normal in adults. But, be mindful of the fact that
normal blood pressure varies from person to person depending upon a
variety of factors.
This is how sphygmomanometer gives your blood
pressure reading using a cuff, valve, bulb and stethoscope.