HOW TO CHECK BLOOD PRESSURE

HOW TO CHECK BLOOD PRESSURE
Introduction:
Blood pressure is one of the important parameters that ensure your healthy body status. It can be said that along with heart beat rate, breathing rate and body temperature, blood pressure can be regarded as the major vital signs that give an idea about how well the body organs are functioning. If there is any change in these vital signs for a person it may be the indication of underlying or hidden health risks of diseases and problems. Blood pressure is usually measured with the help of a blood pressure measuring cuff secured around biceps. In this article the information will be provided about the procedure that how the blood pressure of a person can be measured manually?, what is blood pressure and precautions that should be adopted during measuring blood pressure.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the arteries or the efficiency of heart to pump the blood in the whole body. It measures the amount of force the blood places on the blood vessels in the body. The machine that is used to measure blood pressure is known as sphygmomanometer. A blood pressure reading includes two numbers:
Systolic pressure ( the first reading or upper number that involves the pressure exerted inside the arteries during heart contraction to pump blood in the body)
Diastolic pressure ( the second reading or the lower number that involves the pressure exerted inside arteries in the relaxed state of heart between consecutive heart beats)
Normal blood pressure:
The reading for normal blood pressure that is considered standard is below or equal to 120/80 mmHg.
High blood pressure:
If the reading go across the normal reading of 120/80 mmHg, it indicates the complications that the heart is working scarcely to pump blood through arteries.
Causes of high blood pressure:
High blood pressure is mostly caused by the following reasons:
Stress
Fear
High cholesterol
Plaque formation in the arteries
Note: Accurate blood pressure readings are important as high blood pressure usually doesn’t cause any symptoms until it is dangerously high.
Manual checking of the blood pressure:
Before going for to measure blood pressure there are some precautions that you must keep in your mind while ding the blood pressure estimation.
Precautions:
These precautions are:
Avoid smoking, drinking and exercise for 30 minutes before measuring the blood pressure.
If you are measuring blood pressure at home, measure the blood pressure at few times during the day.
Support the arm to bring it near the heart, so that it is closely placed to heart.
Don’t check your blood pressure in a cold room.
Keep calm and never move or talk when measuring.
Measure in a quiet place.
Wear loose clothes while measuring.
Place the feet flat on the floor and sit up straight while measuring the blood pressure.
The cuff should always be used on the bare skin.
Take few deep breathes before measuring blood pressure and relax for five minutes approximately.
Empty the bladder before measuring the blood pressure as it can contaminate the reading with the error that is not affordable.
Procedure:
To check the blood pressure without the help of an automated machine, a person will need several medical items. These are:
A stethoscope ( to listen the heart beat).
A blood pressure cuff with a squeezable balloon.
An aneroid monitor which has numbered dial to take the readings.
Steps:
Examine the instrument before using. The needle should point to the site of”0”. Press the ball, the needle reacts quickly and returns to 0.
Sit in a relaxed position with the arm at rest on a table.
Secure the cuff on the bicep and squeeze the balloon to increase the pressure.
Watch the aneroid monitor and increase the pressure to about 30 mm Hg over the normal blood pressure that is normally 120 mmHg, or to 180 mm Hg if this is not known.
When the cuff is inflated, place the stethoscope just inside the elbow joint under the cuff.
Slowly release the air and listen through stethoscope. When the first beat hits, note the number. This is systolic pressure.
Continue listening and when the beat disappears, note the reading. This is the diastolic pressure.
Conclusion:
So, in the light of above discussion, blood pressure can easily be measured accurately with just a little care and awareness.