The Cuff Inflation Meter is positioned on the left side of the display screen and indicates when the blood pressure monitor inflates or deflates the cuff. During inflation, the Cuff Inflation Meter rises, and during deflation, it falls.
How high should a blood pressure cuff be inflated?
The patient should be sat in a comfortable position with his or her legs uncrossed. With the arm supported, the artery used to measure blood pressure should be close to the level of the heart.
3. Choose the correct cuff.
A cuff that can completely encircle the patient’s upper arm with 80 percent of the cuff should be chosen. The cuff is too tiny for the patient and will generate a reading that is higher than accurate if it takes more than 80% of the cuff to round the upper arm. The cuff is too large if it takes less than 80% of the cuff to surround the upper arm, resulting in a less-than-accurate reading.
4. Feel the artery with your fingers.
Feel for the pulsing of the brachial artery with the arm completely extended. Failure to properly extend the arm will make finding the artery and hearing Korotkoff sounds more challenging. The pulse may usually be felt at the medial aspect of the antecubital fossa, where the artery is closest to the skin in most persons.
5. Make sure the cuff is in the right place.
The cuff’s bottom edge should be 1 inch above the spot where the pulse was found, and it should be snug on the arm. It’s tough to make the cuff too tight to the arm in practice, but it’s very easy to make it too loose. To correctly occlude blood flow when the cuff is inflated, locate where the bladder is sewed into the cuff and ensure that the bladder is positioned over the artery.
6. Estimate the systolic blood pressure using palpation.
Inflate the cuff while palpating the radial pulse until it vanishes. Release the pressure until the pulse returns, and record the sphygmomanometer value at this time. This is your systolic blood pressure as measured by your fingers.
Many EMS professionals and clinicians forgo this step in favor of getting an immediate auscultated pressure, which can lead to an overestimate of systolic blood pressure in the presence of an auscultatory gapa condition in which Korotkoff sounds vanish for up to 30 mmHg before reappearing.
1 The auscultatory gap, which is usually noticed during Phase 2, has been linked to significant vascular disease and chronic hypertension. 2 As with pericardial tamponade, we can only see this clinically relevant finding with an aneroid sphygmomanometer, which can help us make better diagnostic decisions.
7. Inflate the cuff to 30 mmHg above the systolic pressure that may be felt.
Ideally, the cuff should be inflated to 30 mmHg above the palpated systolic pressureno more, no less. This prevents the cuff from being under- or over-inflated.
8. Slowly release the pressure while looking at the sphygmomanometer straight in the eyes.
When you look at the face of the manometer at an angle, you can get parallax error, which is an erroneous measurement caused by optics.
What is the ideal pressure for a blood pressure monitor?
According to Dr. Del Conde, a normal systolic blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg and a normal diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 mmHg. As a result, your optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.
Elevated blood pressure is defined as 120/80 mmHg to 129/80 mmHg, stage 1 hypertension is defined as greater than or equal to 130/80 mmHg, and stage 2 hypertension is defined as greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg, according to the CDC. If your blood pressure routinely registers higher than 140/90 mmHg, Dr. Del Conde advises calling your doctor.
When is your blood pressure at its highest?
Blood pressure usually begins to rise a few hours before you awake. It continues to increase throughout the day, reaching a high point about lunchtime. In the late afternoon and evening, blood pressure usually declines. While you’re asleep, your blood pressure usually drops.
Can a cuff that is too tight cause a high reading?
The majority of blood pressure measurement errors are caused by incorrect cuff sizing or wearing the cuff over clothing. Your blood pressure reading can rise by 10 to 50 points if the cuff is placed incorrectly over clothing. It can increase 2 to 10 points to your bp measurement if the cuff is too small. For a blood pressure test, roll up your sleeve and tell your doctor if the cuff feels too tight around your arm.
In the heart, what does diastole mean?
In the cardiac cycle, diastole is the phase when the heart muscle relaxes while the chambers fill with blood. In the cardiac cycle, diastole is followed by a period of heart muscle contraction, or systole (q.v.).
Before taking your blood pressure
- Make sure you have the correct cuff size. Consult your healthcare professional if you are unsure or have any questions. (To get an accurate blood pressure reading, avoid using wrist and finger monitors.)
- If necessary, roll up your left arm’s sleeve or remove any tight-sleeved apparel. (If you’re right-handed, take your blood pressure with your left arm.) If your healthcare practitioner has instructed you to do so, you may use the other arm.)
- For 5 to 10 minutes, sit in a chair adjacent to a table. (Your left arm should be at a comfortable level at the level of your heart.)
- Sit up straight in your chair with your back against the backrest and your legs uncrossed and flat on the ground.
- During this time, you should not talk, read the newspaper, or watch television.
Record your blood pressure
Please write down the date, time of day, systolic and diastolic values, heart rate, and which arm you took the reading on if you have been instructed to record your blood pressure and bring your readings to the office. Your blood pressure readings are automatically shared with your medical practitioner if you participate in a program that includes remote monitoring. Please with your provider if you have any questions.
What is the best way to tell if my blood pressure monitor is accurate?
Most monitors found in a drugstore or on the internet are OK, according to Dr. Laffin. However, it isn’t a bad idea to take it to your doctor’s office and compare it to the monitor there.
“It’s normally accurate if the systolic blood pressure (highest number) on your cuff is within 10 points of the monitor,” he explains.
The average lifespan of a home blood pressure machine is two to three years. After that, go to your doctor’s office once a year to double-check if it’s still accurate.
Take three
One additional feature to consider to help improve the accuracy of a monitor is taking three measurements automatically.
This is something that some monitors do every time you check your blood pressure. They take a first reading, then wait 30 to 60 seconds before taking a second reading, and then wait 30 to 60 seconds before taking a final measurement.
“This is useful because it averages your three measurements,” Dr. Laffin explains, “which probably more accurately reflects your actual blood pressure than the first figure alone.”
You’re now ready to dive in and find the blood pressure monitor that’s ideal for you – without the worry of being overwhelmed by options.
When should you take your blood pressure when you wake up?
A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by a shortage of blood supply to the brain caused by high blood pressure. There are two types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke is a type of stroke caused by a blood clot. The most frequent type of stroke is ischemic stroke, which accounts for 85 percent of the 600,000 strokes that occur each year. Hemorrhagic strokes happen when a blood artery in the brain bursts.
Hypertension in the morning can also put you at risk for additional heart and blood vessel disorders. It’s been linked to changes in the rhythm and size of your heart, which can lead to a heart attack or heart failure. If you get symptoms like a strong headache, chest discomfort, or numbness or tingling in your face or arms, call your doctor right once.
Patients should use a home blood pressure monitor that has been clinically proved to be accurate to monitor their blood pressure at home to assist identify their risk of morning hypertension. A home blood pressure monitor is available without a prescription at your local pharmacy. Monitors come in a variety of styles, including automatic and manual units. Omron Healthcare makes the only home blood pressure monitor currently on the market that has been approved by the FDA to help identify a patient’s risk of morning hypertension (Model HEM-780). Omron automatic blood pressure monitors have been clinically confirmed to be accurate, and have IntelliSense for appropriate cuff inflation, memory, multiple cuff sizes, and an electronic display with the date and time.
When buying a home blood pressure monitor, be sure the cuff size corresponds to the circumference of your upper arm. If the cuff size is incorrect, the blood pressure reading will be erroneous. You should also think about whether you want a monitor with an automatic or manual inflation cuff.
Using the same arm each time, check your blood pressure in the morning, approximately an hour after you wake up, and in the evening, about an hour before you go to sleep. Taking three successive blood pressure readings (approximately one minute apart) will give you a more accurate picture of your “real” blood pressure. Food, coffee, and smoke should be avoided for at least 30 minutes before the measurement. Sit in a chair with your back supported and your legs and ankles uncrossed. Your arm should be resting on a table or counter at the same level as your heart. Follow the user instructions for your blood pressure monitor that came with it. Keeping track of your blood pressure levels is a good idea. Many Omron monitors feature internal memory that can be used to save your readings as well as the date and time. Bring your blood pressure log to every doctor’s appointment so that your doctor is aware of your home readings. Based on your home blood pressure measurements, your doctor may make medication changes, such as adjusting the time you take your medicine or the type of medication you take.
Dr. Gibson is a resident pharmacist at the University of Colorado Hospital. Dr. Page is a clinical specialist and associate professor of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine at the UC Health Sciences Center’s Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine’s Division of Cardiology.
When is it not a good idea to take your blood pressure?
Take two or three readings each time you measure to ensure your results are accurate. Your doctor may advise you to check your blood pressure at the same time every day. Do not take your blood pressure immediately after waking up.