Measuring and Recording Blood Pressure

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Measuring and Recording Blood Pressure
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Blood Pressure-BP

• Measurement of pressure that the blood exerts on
  the artery walls during the various stages of
  heart activity.
• Measured in mmHg on instrument called a
  sphygmomanometer. (blood pressure cuff)
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vqWti317qb_w

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Two types of BP

• Systolic-first beat heard
• Top number
• Diastolic-last beats heard
• Bottom number

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Systolic Pressure

• Systolic pressure occurs in artery walls when the
  Left Ventricle of the heart is contracting and
  pushing blood into the arteries.
• Normal systolic reading is 120 mmHg
• Normal range is 100-140 mmHg

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Diastolic Blood Pressure

• Diastolic pressure-constant pressure in artery
  walls when Left Ventricle of heart is at rest or
  between contractions.
• Volume of blood in arteries has decreased.
• Normal reading 80mm/Hg
• Normal range 60-90 mm/Hg

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Pulse Pressure

• Difference between systolic and diastolic
  pressure
• Normal range in adults is 30 to 50 mm/Hg.
• Example Systolic pressure is 120 mm/Hg and
  diastolic pressure is 80 mm/Hg, the pulse
  pressure is 40 mm/Hg. (120-8040)

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HYPERTENSION

• High blood pressure
• When pressures are greater than
• 140 mm/Hg systolic and 90 mm/Hg
• diastolic
• Common Causes stress, anxiety, kidney disease,
  aging, high-salt intake, thyroid deficiency, and
  vascular conditions, life style choices

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• Controllable Factors
• Diet, exercise, smoking habits, stress
• Uncontrollable Factors
• Age, sex, family history

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Effects of HypertensionCalled the Silent Killer

• Causes damage to the arteries, weakens them, Can
  cause aneurysmDeath
• Heart Enlarged Heart, Heart Failure, MI, Heart
  Disease
• Brain Stroke, Dementia
• Kidneys Kidney Failure
• Eyes Blindness

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S/S of Hypertension

• Headache
• Ringing in the Ears
• Nosebleed
• Blurred vision
• Seeing Spots

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HYPOTENSION

• Low blood pressure when pressures are less than
  100 mm/Hg systolic and
• 60 mm/Hg diastolic.
• Common Causes heart failure, hemorrhage,
  dehydration, depression, severe burns, trauma.

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S/S of Hypotension

• Dizziness
• Clammy Skin
• Cool Skin
• Nausea
• Light-Headed
• Feeling Faint
• Black-Out

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Orthostatic Hypotension

• Postural hypotension-occurs when there is a
  sudden drop in both systolic and diastolic
  pressure.
• This occurs when the individual moves from a
  lying to a sitting or standing position.
• Caused by inability of blood vessels to
  compensate quickly to the change in position.

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Various Factors Influences BP Readings

• Force of heartbeat
• Resistance of the arterial system
• Elasticity of the arteries
• Volume of the blood in arteries

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Various Factors CausingIncreased BP

1. excitement, anxiety, nervous tension
2. Exercise and eating
3. Smoking
4. Drugs, Alcohol

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Various Factors Causing Decreased BP

• Rest or sleep
• Depressant drugs
• Shock
• Excessive loss of blood
• Fasting

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Factor that may cause changes

• Lying down
• Sitting position
• Standing position

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Recording BP

• Record as a fraction.
• Systolic is the top number
• Diastolic is the bottom number
• 120/80

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Two main types of sphygmomanometers

• Mercury sphygmomanometer-has long column of
  mercury
• Each mark represents 2 mmHg.
• Aneroid has round gauge
• Cuff deflatedzero for accuracy
• Electronic types used in healthcare facilities.

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Recommendations

• AHA-American Heart Assn. recommends pt. sit
  quietly for _at_ least 5 min. before taking BP.
• AHA recommends that two readings be taken,
  averaged, with a minimum wait of 30 seconds
  between readings.
• Pt. seated or lying comfortably with forearm
  supported on flat surface.

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Procedure

• Cuff appropriate size for pt.
• Arm free of restrictive clothing
• Deflated cuff should be placed on arm with center
  of cuff directly over the brachial artery.
• Lower edge of cuff should be 1-1 ½ inches above
  the bend of the elbow.

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Rest of the procedure

• Final point-accuracy in placing stethoscope bell
  or diaphragm directly over the brachial artery at
  the antecubital area (bend in the elbow).
• Hold securely but with slight pressure.

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Do not use

• Arm with IV
• Arm with paralysis
• Arm on side which pt has had a mastectomy
• Arm that has a Dialysis shunt