How to measure blood pressure

I believe everyone knows the importance of blood pressure. Our body's blood pressure fluctuates within a certain range. If our blood pressure is higher than this range for a long time, then we can be sure that we have symptoms of high blood pressure. If it is lower than the fluctuation range for a long time, then we are suffering from low blood pressure, so we must know how to measure blood pressure.

1. Choose a mercury sphygmomanometer that meets measurement standards; or a verified (BHS and AAMI, ESH) electronic sphygmomanometer.

Mercury sphygmomanometers need to be calibrated every 6 months. Is this the case in your hospital? If they are all sent to the quality inspection department for calibration, what if there are no sphygmomanometers to use on that day? If they are sent for inspection in batches, will there be a dedicated person to manage those that are sent for inspection and those that are not? Or can some be sent for inspection and some not?

2 Use an appropriately sized cuff

Do you have three air bags of different sizes in your sphygmomanometer or drawer? Currently, the air bags of mercury column sphygmomanometers available in China (specifications: 22cm in length and 12cm in width) are not suitable for obese people or children with large arm circumference. There are many obese people nowadays, and most young hypertensive patients are obese.

3 Before measuring blood pressure, the subject should sit and rest quietly for at least 5 minutes, refrain from smoking or drinking coffee within 30 minutes, and empty the bladder.

Everyone probably has no problem with "sit and rest quietly for 5 minutes", but what about "no smoking or coffee within 30 minutes, empty bladder"? Although the hospital notice prohibits smoking, how many people abide by it? It is also normal to drink some Coke before seeing a doctor in summer! What should we do? Should we ask the patient to measure blood pressure next time when the specialist is in the clinic? Or wait 30 minutes without smoking before seeing a doctor? And let the patient go to the toilet before measuring blood pressure? It is better to inform the patient before registering.

4 Blood pressure should be measured in both upper arms during the first visit, and the upper arm blood pressure with the higher reading should be measured thereafter.

In the past, "If peripheral vascular disease is suspected, blood pressure in the left and right upper arms should be measured when visiting a doctor for the first time." Has the habit changed now?

5 For children under 12 years old, pregnant women, patients with severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, aortic valve insufficiency and those whose Korotkoff sounds persist, the IV phase (change of sound) of Korotkoff sounds can be used as diastolic pressure.

Did you write "Korotkoff sounds phase IV" in the medical record? Or did you just write diastolic pressure? If another doctor sees you next time, how can you tell the difference?

When using a mercury sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure and read blood pressure values, the last digit can only be 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and cannot be 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. Care should be taken to avoid preference for the last digit.

In the above article, we introduced what blood pressure is. We know that blood pressure is very important to us. Once our blood pressure is too high or too low, it will threaten our health. In the above article, we have introduced the blood pressure measurement method in detail.