Blood Pressure

Question 1

Which artery is occluded when taking BP with the arm?

Answer 1

brachial artery

Question 2

How can a BP cuff that is too small affect your reading?

How big should the cuff be?

Answer 2

if bladder is too small the reading may be higher than it really is

For adults the bladder of the cuff should encompass 80% of the arm, for children it should be 100%, when in doubt always get a bigger cuff

Question 3

How fast should you decrease the cuff pressure when taking BP readings?

Answer 3

2-3 mm H per second

Question 4

What are korotkoff sounds?

Answer 4

the sounds heard when taking BP readings which originate from a combination of turbulent blood flow and oscillations of the arterial wall

Question 5

What are the 5 phases of korotkoff sounds when taking blood pressure and what does each indicate?

Answer 5

Phase 1- first appearance of clear tapping sounds and corresponds with systolic blood pressure

Phase 2- sounds become softer and longer

Phase 3- sounds become crisper and louder

Phase 4- sounds become muffled and softer

Phase 5-sound disappears completely, the diastolic blood pressure is the pressure at the last audible sound

Question 6

What is considered normal BP in healthy adults?

Answer 6

<120/ <80 (systolic/diastolic)

Question 7

What is considered elevated BP in adults?

Answer 7

120-129/ <80

Question 8

What BP would classify an adult as stage 1 hypertensive?

Stage 2 hypertensive?

Answer 8

Stage 1: 130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic

Stage 2: at least 140 systolic or at least 90 diastolic

Question 9

What would classify as a hypertensive crisis BP reading?

Answer 9

greater than 180 systolic and/or greater than 120 diastolic