BLOOD PRESSURE OBJECTIVES DEFINE BLOOD PRESSURE SYSTOLIC AND

BLOOD PRESSURE

OBJECTIVES • DEFINE BLOOD PRESSURE – SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC • NORMAL RANGE OF B/P – SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC • SIZE AND PLACEMENT OF B/P CUFF

BLOOD PRESSURE • MEASUREMENT OF THE PRESSURE THAT THE BLOOD EXERTS ON THE WALLS OF THE ARTERIES DURING THE VARIOUS STAGES OF HEART ACTIVITY. – AS THE HEART CONTRACTS OR RELAXES

SYSTOLIC PRESSURE • PRESSURE THAT OCCURS IN WALLS OF ARTERIES WHEN THE HEART IS CONTRACTING AND PUSHING BLOOD INTO ARTERIES

DIASTOLIC PRESSURE • CONSTANT PRESSURE THAT IS IN THE WALLS OF THE ARTERIES WHEN THE HEART IS AT REST OR BETWEEN CONTRACTIONS.

BLOOD PRESSURE NORMAL RANGE

SYSTOLIC PRESSURE • NORMAL RANGE – 100 TO 140 MM MERCURY

DIASTOLIC PRESSURE • NORMAL RANGE – 60 TO 90 MM MERCURY

Factors influencing Blood Pressure readings • • Force of the Heartbeat Resistance of the arterial system Elasticity of the arteries Volume of blood in the arteries

Increase Blood Pressure • Excitement, anxiety, nervous tension • Stimulant drugs • Exercise and eating

Decrease Blood Pressure • Rest and sleep • Depressant drugs • Excessive loss of blood

Factors that affect B/P readings • Lying down (usually lower B/P) • Sitting position • Standing position (usually higher B/P)

Recording B/P • Systolic reading is top number • Diastolic is bottom number • Example – 120/80

Types of sphygmomanometers • Mercury • Aneroid

Mercury sphygmomanometer • contains a long column of mercury • each line on gauge represents 2 mm of mercury • place on a flat level surface or mounted on the wall • level of mercury should be at 0

Aneroid sphygmomanometer • Round gauge • Each line on gauge represents 2 mm of mercury pressure

Factors to follow for accurate readings • American Heart Association recommendations – Patient should sit quietly for at least 5 minutes before the B/P is taken – Two separate readings should be taken and averaged – Minimum wait of 30 seconds between readings

PROPER SIZE • B/P CUFFS SHOULD BE THE SAME DIAMETER AS OF THE PATIENTS ARM

PROPER SIZE • SMALL CUFFS RESULTS IN FALSELY HIGH READINGS • LARGE CUFF MAY CAUSE FALSELY LOW READINGS