Blood Pressure Flashcards
What is blood pressure?
The force at which blood is pumped against the walls of the arteries
What is the standard of measurement of blood pressure?
millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
What are the two pressure measurements?
- Systolic pressure
- Diastolic pressure
Define Systolic pressure
Measure of pressure when left ventricle contracts (top number)
Define Diastolic pressure
Measure of pressure when heart relaxes, minimum pressure exerted against the artery walls at times (bottom number)
What is classification of Normal blood pressure?
≤ 120/80 mmHg
What is the classification of Prehypertension?
- 120-139 mmHg systolic
- 80-89 mmHg diastolic
What is the classification of Hypertension?
140/90 mmHg or more
What are factors affecting blood pressure?
- Hypertension- If the blood pressure reading is elevated after 2 or more visits to the physician
- Classifications:
- Essential-no identifiable cause; 95% of all hypertension
- Secondary-as a result of some other condition like kidney or hear disease
- Hypotension- low blood pressure
- Not generally a chronic health problem
- Slighty low blood pressure may be normal does not require treatment
List Blood Pressure Equipments
- Sphygmomanometer
- Aneroid
- Electronic sphygmomanometer
- Stethoscope
What is a Sphygmomanometer?
- Blood pressure cuff and dial
- Inflatable cuff
- Pressure bulb or automatic device for inflating cuff
- Manometer to read the pressure
-Types (aneroid and electronic)
What is a Aneroid?
- Sphygmomanometers
-Circular gauage for registering pressure
-Each line 2 mmHg - Requires use of a stethoscope
- Must be calibrated to maintain accuracy
Explain the Electronic sphymomanometer
- Digitial readout
- Easy to use
- Costly
- Less accurate
Explain the Stethoscope
- Amplifies body sounds
- Earpieces
- Chest piece
-Diaphragm: high pitched sound (larger size)
-Bell: low-pitched sounds (smaller size)
Explain the technique of measuring blood pressure
- Place cuff on the upper arm
- BP is measured in the brachial artery
-
Palpatory method- to determine the palpatory pressure that represents the target peak inflation
-Palpate the radial pulse
-Inflate the cuff until you can no longer feel the radial pulse
-Note the pressure at the point - Allow the arm to rest for 1 minute or remove the cuff and replace
- Inflate the cuff to 30 mmHg, above the palpatory result, or approx. 180 to 200 mmHg
- Place the stethoscope over the brachial pulse point
- Release the air in the cuff anf listen for sounds-first sound is the systolic BP; last sound is the diastolic BP
-
Korotkoff sounds
1. Phase 1-tapping sound; systolic pressure
2. Phase 2-change to softer swishing sound
3. Phase 3-resumption of a crisp tapping sound
4. Phase 4-sounf becomes muffled
5. Phase 5-sound disappears; diastolic pressure - Record pressure
Review Procedure notes pg 10-12
