Question

An automated sphygmomanometer tightens around a patient’s arm at a pressure of 250 mmHg, and gradually relieves pressure at a rate of 12 mmHg/sec. A microphone in the cuff records the onset of Korotkoff sounds after 9.6 seconds, and the sounds end after 16.5 seconds.
(a) What are the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values?
(b) Determine for each pressure value, whether it is high, low, or normal. If you find some values are abnormal, suggest a possible cause for the abnormalities. Cite any sources you used.

Answer 1

Given

an automated sphygmomanometer

patient's arm at P of 250 mmHg

Pressure relieved at a rate of 12mmHg/sec

korotkoff starts after 9.6 sec & sound ends at 16.5 sec.

a)to explain systolic & diastolic blood pressure values

while measuring B.P. of patient we tightens sphymomanometer around patients arm. at some Pressure then it relieved at some rate while doing this at some point korotkoff sound starts its called as systolic BP.

and after some time this sound changes this pressure is related to diastolic blood Pressure.

b) to calculate systolic & diastolic blood pressure values.

as korotkoff starts at 9.6 sec

amount of pressure relieved till 9.6 sec = rate of P relief* time

=12*9.6

=115.2 mmHg

so now P at patients arm=250-115.2

=134.8mmHg this is systolic B.P. as korotkoff starts at this P.

similarly

The P at which korotkoff ends is reletaed to diastolic B.P.

pressure relieved still 16.5 sec = 12*16.5=198 mmHg

so diastolic B.P.=250-198=52mmHg

normal	systolic: less than 120 mmHg diastolic: less than 80 mmHg
at risk	systolic: less than 120-139 mmHg diastolic: less than 80-89mmHg
high	systolic: less than 140 mmHg diastolic: less than 90mmHg
low	systolic: less than 90 mmHg diastolic: less than 60mmHg

from above chart you can see that patient BP is not under normal conditions

causes of Low BP

• lack of nutrients in your diet
• pregnancy
• blood loss
• severe infecation etc.

causes high BP

• smoking
• stress
• being overweight etc.