What Every Tech Should Know About Blood Pressure

What Every Tech Should Know About Blood Pressure? Lynn Lawrence, CPOT, ABOC

What is Blood Pressure? It can be a vascular disease The pressure that blood inside the vessels are exerting on the walls of the vessels Can be constant or intermittent

Blood Pressures Systolic – Pressure exerted on your vessels when the heart contracts and is pumping blood Diastolic - Pressure exerted on your vessels when the heart is at rest These can change throughout the day and activities have an impact too

Anatomy of the Heart Right Atria Right Ventricle Left Atria Left Ventricle

Circulatory Anatomy Vein Artery Valve Venules Capillary bed Arterioles

Healthy Life Styles Changes Reducing body weight Restricting dietary salt Decreasing fat Not smoking Avoiding excess alcohol Exercising regularly Developing relaxing techniques Taking medication as prescribe

What is Hypertension? It is the same as high blood pressure When your blood pressure is high, your heart must work harder to pump the same amount of blood through your arteries This can damage your heart, kidneys, vessels and eyes Major cause of cerebrovascular accident (stroke), cardiac disease, and renal failure

2 Types Primary is the most common type and it’s cause are unknown. Secondary may be the result of renal vascular disease, renal parenchymal disease, Cushing’s syndrome, DM, dysfunction of the thyroid or adrenal gland, pregnancy, and some neurologic disorders

Symptoms of Hypertension Head aches Blurred vision Chest pain Frequent night urination Nose bleeds Dizziness/fatigue Stroke…sudden death of tissue Heart attack Hypertensive retinopathy, hemorrhage, exudates, papilledema, subconjunctival hemorrhages

Question Why is high blood pressure dangerous to a diabetic patient?

Question Why is high blood pressure dangerous to a diabetic patient? a. Diabetes is a vascular disease and high pressure through weaken vessels is a bad combination

Question The kidneys play what role in blood pressure?

Question The kidneys play what role in blood pressure A. Aids in maintaining pressure and volume by vasoconstriction, regulation of sodium, and fluid levels

Question Why is it important to ask about BP during a screening? How about the family Hx?

Question Should I take blood pressure before or after I dilate my patient. Why?

Taking a blood pressure Tools of the trade

Taking a Blood Pressure Have the patient relax 20 minutes Arm should be at heart level Place the Blood Pressure Cuff on the arm ◦ Above the elbow over the Brachial Artery

Taking a Blood Pressure Select the correct cuff size Have the patient relax their arm. Find the Radial pulse.

Taking a Blood Pressure Inflate the blood pressure cuff until you can no longer feel a pulse. Then inflate 30 mm. Hg more. At least 200 mm. Hg

Taking a Blood Pressure Place your stethoscope over the brachial artery. Begin deflating the cuff slowly until you hear the pulse return. This is your Systolic Pressure.

Taking a Blood Pressure Listen until you no longer hear a pulse. This is the Diastolic Pressure.

Abnormal Blood Pressures Systolic greater than 140* Diastolic greater than 90* Difference less than 30 between the Systolic and Diastolic Pressures. * 140/90 210/120 severe hypertension v These are general guidelines and may differ from the guidelines that the provider you are employed by uses.