Measurement of Blood Pressure
By Bhavin Doshi
22nd March 2011
http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/a-/a-&-d-ua-702-digital-blood-pressure-monitor.jpg

Pulse measurement by palpation
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•
•
•
•Measure for 1 minute
•Less time is not accurate due to:
–1. One cannot count fractions of pulses but only whole units
–2. First and last pulse cannot be caught with certainty
–3. Heart rate fluctuates periodically
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–
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/images/heart-rate-radial.gif

Qualities of Peripheral Pulse
•Pulsus celer (fast)
•Pulsus tardus (slow)
•Pulsus mollis (soft or weak)
•Pulsus durus (hard or strong)
•Pulsus magnus (big amplitude)
•Pulsus parvus (small amplitude)
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Description of pulse



NOW EVRYBODY TRY IT ON EACH OTHER
http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/download_wm_image.html/M920976-Taking_pulse-SPL.jpg?id=779200976


MEASURING Blood Pressure
http://www.firstaidwarehouse.co.uk/pic/280x280/18/33/omron_mx2_basic_fully_automatic_blood_pressure
_monitor.jpg http://www.oncallmedicalsupplies.com/acatalog/0125large.jpg

Indirect measurement of blood pressure
•BY PALPATION
•
•Is possible to due to compliance of arterial walls
•When cuff reaches a pressure just above systolic pressure the artery is occluded •At this point
the pulse is no longer felt distal to the compression
•Measures systolic blood pressure only

In direct measurement of blood pressure
•BY AUSCULTATION
•
•If outer pressure is lower than systolic pressure (SP), but higher than diastolic pressure (DP),
the blood flow is interrupted and renewed alternately
•These sudden changes cause vibrations in the acoustic frequency range – Heard by STETHOSCOPE
distal to compressed area

Rules for measuring blood pressure
1.Patient is sitting for a few minutes
2.Only validated apparatus must be used
3.Perform at least two measurements in the course of 1-2 minutes
4.Use cuff of correct size
5.Cuff must always be at the
•       level of the heart
6.Pressure in cuff should be
•      decreased slowly (2mmHG/s)
•
•ALWAYS REMEMBER ABOUT
•WHITE COAT HYPERTENSION
http://optimalbloodpressure.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/blood-pressure.jpg

INTERPRETATION OF BLOOD PRESSURE VALUES
http://www.beebleblog.com/images/beeblebp.jpg


Classification of blood pressures in adults according to Guideline of European society for
hypertension and European cardiology society for diagnostics and treatment of arterial hypertension
at general practitioner’s (2003)
Category
Systolic pressure (mmHG)
Diastolic pressure (mmHg)
Optimal
<120
<80
Normal
120-129
80-84
High normal
130-139
85-89
Hypertension


Stage 1
140-159
90-99
Stage 2
160-179
100-109
Stage 3
≥180
≥110
Isolated systolic hypertension
≥140
<90

AND WHAT NEXT?
•Encourage a healthy diet
•Obesity management
•Control causative diseases
•Control stress levels
•Initiate pharmaco-therapeutic regime
•Constant monitoring and vigilance of causative factors
•Regular check-ups at the G.P.’s