Question

1. What is orthostatic hypotension? How do you assess orthostatic hypotension?
2. What equipment do you need when taking a manual BP?
3. Review common mistakes in blood pressure measurement.
4. Fill in the blanks:

5. Blood pressure is the force of blood exerted against the ___________walls and is reported in ___________. The systolic pressure is the ___________pressure on the arteries during left ventricular _____________ . The left ventricle is a lower chamber of the heart responsible for pumping blood out to the body. The diastolic pressure is the __________pressure on the arteries between each cardiac contraction when the heart’s chambers are __________with blood (diastole).

Answer 1

What is orthostatic hypotension? How do you assess orthostatic hypotension?

Answer :  Orthostatic hypotension is the fall in blood pressure when a person stands. When a person stands up from sitting or lying down, it is important for the body to push blood upward and supply the brain with oxygen. If the body fails to do this adequately, blood pressure drop of at least 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic in blood pressure.

Assess patient's history, signs and symptoms, and current medications. Make the patient lie down for 5 to 10 min and measure the blood pressure in both arm and check pulse also. Ask the patient to stand up and measure blood pressure and pulse, repeat it after 3 minute also. During the entire procedure dont leave the patient alone.A drop in BP of ≥20 mm Hg, or in diastolic BP of ≥10 mm Hg, or experiencing lightheadedness or dizziness is considered abnormal.

What equipment do you need when taking a manual BP?

Answer:

1) Portable aneroid sphigmomanometer or mercuric sphigmomanometer.

2) Stethescope.

Review common mistakes in blood pressure measurement?

Answer :

Measuring blood pressure immediately after smoking, exercise and consumption of coffiene - Leads to rise in blood pressure.

Maintaining improper posture while measuring blood pressure - For accurate result measure blood pressure in supine position or in sitting position with both feet need to rest on the ground or a stool. The back needs to be supported, as well as the arm, which should be propped at heart level for appropriate measurement.

Failing to take rest before a measurement - Sitting quietly atleast five minutes can help relax the body.

Engaging in conversation -  Avoid conversation while procedure may lead a rise in blood pressure.

Placing a cuff over clothing -  Depending on the thickness of the sleeve, clothing, blood pressure reading may varies. The blood pressure cuff needs to be placed on a bare arm for appropriate reading.

Using improper sized cuff -  Squeezing an arm into a cuff that’s too small or too large can lead to inaccurate reading.

Measure blood pressure with unsupported arm with improper position - If your arm is hanging by your side or you have to hold it up during a reading,  Position arm on a chair with the cuff is in same level with the heart.

Fill in the blanks:

Blood pressure is the force of blood exerted against the arteial walls and is reported in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). The systolic pressure is the maximum pressure on the arteries during left ventricular contraction (systole). The left ventricle is a lower chamber of the heart responsible for pumping blood out to the body. The diastolic pressure is the resting pressure on the arteries between each cardiac contraction when the heart’s chambers are filling with blood (diastole).