How to measure blood pressure with a manual sphygmomanometer?

Everyone needs to know how to measure blood pressure with a tonometer correctly . BP is the main indicator of the normal activity of the cardiovascular system. If someone is experiencing a headache, pressure in the temples, tinnitus, or a sudden nosebleed, the first thing to do is to get a blood pressure reading. The device by which blood pressure measurements (tonometer) are carried out can be of three types. You can choose manual, automatic, semi-automatic.

Preparation for the procedure

In a healthy person, blood pressure on the walls of blood vessels is relatively constant. However, it varies depending on physical and mental stress, stress, time of day and many other factors. But such deviations are minor and temporary.

Thanks to this device, you can find out systolic and diastolic indicators on your own, without resorting to the services of health workers.

Systolic (upper) blood pressure is the pressure of blood on the walls of the arteries at the time of contraction of the heart ventricles. During this process, about seventy milligrams of blood is pushed out. Since so much fluid cannot instantly pass through the small arteries, the aorta and other large arteries are stretched.

As a result, the pressure increases, reaching ≈130 millimeters of mercury. During the diastolic period, the blood pressure in the aortic vessel drops to 90 mm Hg. Art., in the veins - up to 70 mm Hg. Art. The difference in systolic and diastolic indicators is manifested in the form of a rhythmic wave, which is called the pulse.

To correctly determine blood pressure indicators, the following factors should be considered:

• Measurements must be carried out in a comfortable position and a warm room. It is best to choose a comfortable place on a chair, lean on its back, and put your hand on the table.
• It is permissible to measure pressure in the supine and standing position, but the limb should be in line with the heart, the muscles are relaxed.
• The hand must be freed from clothing. Nothing should crush her.
• On the limbs where pressure measurements will be taken, there should be no deep scars, lymphedema, fistulas and other pathologies, injuries of muscle tissues and blood vessels.

• Before measuring pressure, it is recommended to check the pulse on the radial artery. It must not be changed.
• Within an hour before the procedure, you can not drink strong drinks (coffee, alcohol), smoke.
• Before taking blood pressure measurements, you should sit quietly for five minutes.
• If it is necessary to measure the pressure after physical or psychological stress, it is recommended to increase the rest time by three times.
• During the procedure, you can not move and talk.
• The first time the pressure should be measured on both hands. In subsequent procedures, measurements should be taken on the arm where the indicators were higher.
• With a shoulder circumference greater than 33 cm, you need to choose a wide cuff, otherwise the numbers on the screen will be too high.
• In the case of hypertension or hypotension, the pressure should be measured every day at the same time. Recommended in the morning.

How to measure pressure correctly?

Measurements are usually taken on the left hand, but this is the case if the person is right-handed. Therefore, in order to obtain the most accurate results, this factor must always be taken into account.

The most difficult thing is to measure blood pressure with a manual tonometer. Working with such a device requires some skills. But this device is more practical and reliable, since its operation does not depend on the charge of the batteries.

The mechanical tonometer consists of a pear, which is attached to the cuff with a rubber tube. The same element is attached to the monometer. Also included is a phonendoscope, with the help of which the sound manifestation of indicators is heard.

Pressure measurement process:

1. It is necessary to put on a cuff on a forearm. The site should be chosen so that it is two to three centimeters higher from the elbow.
2. The cuff should fit tightly around the arm and be fixed with Velcro.
3. The auditory part of the stethoscope is inserted into the ears, and the membrane amplifier is applied to the inside of the limb, in the area where the pulsating artery is located.
4. Next, you should check that the arrow of the monometer is at zero. If this is not the case, then there is air in the cuff (it must be deflated to the end) or the determinant is broken (in this case, it will not be possible to measure correctly).
5. After that, it is necessary to tighten the valve on the pear, thereby preventing air from escaping during injection.
6. Then you need to pump up the cuff by repeatedly squeezing and unclenching the pear. This must be done until the arrow on the monometer becomes higher than the expected number. It is recommended to choose such an indicator based on previous measurements.
7. After that, the air pumping must be stopped and slowly unscrew the valve on the pear.
8. The arrow on the screen will gradually move down. She should be closely monitored.
9. The first knock that appears in the auditory part of the phonendoscope is an indicator of upper pressure.
10. A clear tone will be heard for a while. Then he starts to subside. The moment when the sound disappears completely and is indicated by the number of the lower, that is, diastolic blood pressure.
11. The air from the cuff must be completely deflated and you can remove it from your arm.

Any person can cope with such devices. You can choose an electrical device for the forearm and hand.

An automatic blood pressure monitor is a device consisting of a cuff and a display. It also needs to be worn on the hand, but this is where all the participation of a person ends. He himself pumps air to the required indicators and lowers it independently. The final results are displayed on the screen. The disadvantage of this device is that it can measure only when batteries are present. And in the case when the batteries do not have sufficient charge, errors in performance are possible. If you decide to choose such a device, you will need to regularly monitor the condition of the charging cells.

The principle of operation of a semi-automatic tonometer is somewhat similar to an automatic device. It also records the numerical results of systolic and diastolic blood pressure without assistance, but cannot pump air on its own. To do this, there is a pear, through which you must personally pump it into the cuff. Further, the electric mechanism itself registers the numerical indicators at which the artery straightens (by changing the air pressure in the cuff).