How to measure blood pressure with a mechanical sphygmomanometer

How to measure pressure with a mechanical tonometer is always a timely and relevant question. Some epidemics constantly happen in the world, but none has taken as many lives as cardiovascular pathologies. According to statistics, it is diseases of this category that are most often the cause of death. Today, every third inhabitant on the planet has problems with an increase in blood pressure.

If you are constantly haunted by headaches, dizziness, nausea, you should pay special attention to your health, in particular, to the work of the heart and blood vessels. And the first thing to do in this area is to learn how to properly control pressure. To do this, there is a special device - a tonometer.

In the pharmacy you can see a wide range of such devices: from electronic to mechanical. For a person who first encountered the problem of blood pressure, it will be difficult to choose a good blood pressure monitor. Due to ignorance of all the intricacies of measurement and the complexity (at first glance) of the procedure, people often prefer automatic options. But such devices are not practical. Although they do not require additional human intervention, they often break down and constantly require the purchase of batteries.

The mechanical version is much more convenient in this regard. Although it requires minimal skills, but having acquired it once, you can be sure that at the right time it will not let you down, that is, it will work for sure.

Features of a mechanical tonometer

Such devices differ significantly from their electronic counterparts. They do an excellent job and show very accurate measurement results (the error can be as low as ± 3 mmHg). It is for this reason that mechanical tonometers are more often used by physicians than others.

These devices are unpretentious, they are suitable for all people. The air pressure in them is balanced by a hermetic device with a flexible membrane. Depending on how the membrane is bent, the arrow on the pressure gauge moves along the dial.

These devices are safe, they do not contain mercury and, in case of mechanical damage, will not harm a person. Their weight is small, only about 300 grams, high-quality devices are not sensitive to shaking and minor shocks.

The only "weak" part is the membrane. An element made of flexible material is very susceptible to temperature changes. Over time, the sensitivity of this part decreases. In the case of purchasing a mechanical tonometer with a metal membrane, you should be aware that over time its elasticity decreases, and in case of high humidity it is susceptible to corrosion.

In addition, mechanical devices "do not like" dust and dirt. In order for them to always accurately show the parameters, calibration and cleaning should be carried out from time to time.

Preparing to measure pressure with a mechanical tonometer

1. An hour before the procedure, you should refrain from drinking any strong drinks and cigarettes.
2. You can not measure blood pressure to a person who really wants to go to the toilet. A full bladder will increase the readings of the tonometer by ten millimeters.
3. The temperature in the room should be 22-24 degrees.
4. It is necessary that the room has a quiet, calm atmosphere.
5. During the procedure, the legs should stand straight (it is impossible to cross), it is also forbidden to speak and change the position of the body.

Measuring pressure with a mechanical tonometer

The latter reason requires special monitoring of blood pressure indicators.

Measurement of pressure with a mechanical tonometer consists of several stages:

• Before the procedure, it is necessary to make sure that the person did not drink alcohol, did not take any medications, and did not smoke cigarettes. Since these factors greatly affect blood pressure indicators.

• He must sit comfortably. During the process, the patient should not talk. The hand must be at chest level. This position allows you to achieve the most accurate indicators. The limb is freed from clothing. If it was necessary to roll up the sleeve, he should not pinch it at the top. The arm must be bent at the elbow and placed on a table or armrest. You can't support it with your other hand.
• Particular attention should be paid to the measurement of blood pressure in a child. Children (and sometimes adults) are afraid of the procedure. This greatly affects the true performance of the tonometer. In such cases, it will be right to ask the little person to take a few deep breaths or to preliminarily distract him with a conversation, explain how everything is happening and that there is nothing to worry about.
• The cuff of the tonometer is wrapped around the forearm (you must first check that there is no air in it at all) in such a way that its lower edge is two or three centimeters above the elbow bend, and the tubes go out to the elbow bend. It should fit the hand well, but not be too tight. If the cuff is applied too loosely, the tonometer will show underestimated results, if it is too tight, the numbers can be overestimated. The fit is considered optimal when it is difficult to put two fingers under it. Problems can arise when blood pressure is taken on a very large person, as the cuff size may not match the size of their forearm. In such cases, in order to measure blood pressure, you will have to contact a medical institution.

• You will need to find the brachial artery and place a sound membrane on it, that is, just above the elbow bend. It is important that the head of the phonendoscope does not touch the cuff. It should be just below its edge, otherwise it may create additional noise that can interfere with hearing the blood pulse. It is also not recommended to hold the membrane part with your thumb. It will reflect its own pulse, which will make it difficult to hear the tones of the person whose blood pressure is being measured. It is best to hold the head of the phonendoscope with your index or middle finger.
• When the cuff is fixed and the membrane is in place, you need to take a pear in your other hand and close the valve on it. This is done so that during the injection of air it does not come out. The screw is twisted clockwise until it stops.
• At the next stage, by repeatedly pressing the pear, the air is pumped into the cuff. It is necessary to compress and decompress this element until the arrow on the pressure gauge screen rises twenty divisions above the expected values. If this is done for the first time and there are suspicions that the blood pressure is very high, it will be correct to pump air until the pointer on the screen reaches 180 mmHg. Art.
• After that, slowly open the pear valve. Air should not come out very quickly. Approximate speed 2 mmHg. Art. in one second.
• It is necessary to carefully listen to the noise that the membrane transmits. The first knocking sounds must be remembered. These will be systolic pressure numbers. That is, indicators of the moment when blood presses on the walls of the artery during the contraction of the heart.

• As air escapes from the cuff, the sound vibrations of the membrane also change. Gradually they become dull and disappear completely. It is important to remember the last sound pulse of blood. This will be the diastolic pressure readings. That is, the moment when blood presses on the walls of the artery during the period of relaxation of the heart (between muscle contractions).
• If the readings on the tonometer are high, in order to confirm the results, you will need to take measurements two more times with a frequency of 2-3 minutes. When re-confirmation of large indicators, you should consult a doctor.

The ideal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Art. But depending on the age or individual characteristics of the organism, it may slightly deviate from such indicators. Therefore, do not panic in case of deviation from the established norms. But it is also not necessary to neglect this, otherwise you can miss the beginning of the development of a serious pathology. It is best to go to the clinic and consult a doctor.