Question

How does a blood pressure cuff get your blood pressure reading?

Answer 1

Blood pressure is monitored withe Sphygmomanometer.It has an inflatable cuff,tubing,inflator bulb and a screw .A digital machine doesn't have the inflator bulb and operated digitally.

When the blood pressure cuff is inflated with auscultation simultaneously, the pressure in it is generally elevated above 30mmHg and deflated to listen the first sound which is the systolic reading and the point were it disappears is called as diastolic pressure

When the size of the cuff is too small the systolic pressure may be elevated up to 10 to 40mmHg.If the cuff is above the clothing a variation of about 10 to 50mmHg elevation can be read

If the size of cuff is too large it may give very low blood pressure

When the cuff is tied too tight it may give a high BP and loose will give low reading

Rule of thumb to be followed to apply correctly, one finger should slide into the cuff is the right and the cuff should be 1 inch above the elbow crease

To get the correct reading of blood pressure the size of the cuff plays an important role

A circumference of 7 to 9 " requires a small adult cuff

9_13" circumference =normal regular size cuff is needed

13-17" circumference =large adult cuff