How to Take Blood Pressure

Measuring Blood Pressure

Measuring blood pressure is an important if not vital part of the adult health regimen. Many of us have to measure our blood pressure on a regular basis, and when this is needed it is wise to use an electronic blood pressure monitoring device. The following instructions are for using a sphygmomanometer. This is the manual way of measuring blood pressure, and it is a useful skill to have, especially if an electronic monitor is not available.

Things You'll Need

• Stethoscope
• Sphygmomanometer
• Pencil
• Sheet of paper

Instructions

1. Roll up the patient’s loose sleeve or have the person remove clothing from the side of the body you are doing the measurement on. The patient should be sitting up if possible, and the arm should be relaxed.

2. 

   Wrap the inflatable cuff around the arm, above the bend of the arm.

3. Place the ear pieces of the stethoscope in your ears.

4. Place the round side of the stethoscope underneath the cuff. It should be placed over the spot where you can feel the brachial artery pulse.

5. Ensure that the air valve on the bulb is closed tight.

6. Inflate the cuff to about 180 mm Hg. You will find this reading on the sphygmomanometer .

7. Stop inflating and let the cuff begin deflation. You will need to turn the air valve to let the air make its way out of the cuff.

8. 

   Listen for a sound as the pressure drops. The first sound you hear will be the measurement for the systolic blood pressure (when the artery is opening). Make a note of this measurement either by writing it down or committing it to memory.

9. Note where the measurement on the sphygmomanometer is when the last sound you hear takes place. This will be the diastolic blood pressure measurement.

10. Complete your measurement by placing the highest number on top of the lower number.

Tips & Warnings

• Hg is the atomic symbol for Mercury.

• Contact a physician or the appropriate medical personnel If the blood pressure reading is far too high or far too low. This of course varies by patient and by lifestyle, so understanding a person’s medical history is very important when evaluating what the blood pressure reading means.