Blood pressure measurement – preparation, proper execution, types of devices, interpretation of results

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Measuring blood pressure allows you to determine with which force the blood pumped by the heart hits the walls of the arteries in our body. The pressure value therefore depends on the amount of blood and the force with which it is ejected from the heart, as well as the elasticity of the artery walls. The stiffer they are, the higher the pressure is.

How do I measure my blood pressure correctly?

A pressure level measurement should be performed in a sitting position with hand resting on a solid surface. The hand on which the cuff will be applied must be slightly bent at the elbow – so that the arm is approximately at the same level as the heart. The cuff should be placed directly on the skin of the arm – if necessary, roll up the sleeve of your blouse / shirt. However, remember that the material should not compress the area above the cuff.

The measurement result is expressed in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and consists of two values, the so-called upper (systolic pressure) and lower (diastolic pressure).

Upper value (systolic pressure) shows the maximum force with which the heart pumps blood during systole.

Lower value (diastolic pressure) shows the minimum pressure that prevails in the arteries during the diastole of the heart.

The items needed to measure blood pressure are the cuff and the stethoscope. At Medonet Market you can buy a Novama Classic sphygmomanometer with a stethoscope at a discounted price. In order to measure the pressure, carefully place the cuff on the arm (by wrapping it around the entire circumference). The bottom edge of the cuff should be a few centimeters above the elbow joint.

Next, you should feel the pulse in the area of ​​the elbow and in this place, directly on the skin under the cuff, put the head of the stethoscope (medical handset). You must ensure that the head diaphragm adheres perfectly to the skin and does not touch the cuff material. This will prevent you from hearing any unwanted sounds while deflating the cuff.

After applying the cuff, it is necessary to close the valve next to the pump connected to the cuff and squeeze the pump to inflate the cuff. Inflate the cuff until it reaches a value 30 mmHg higher than the expected pressure (normal or known). If it is difficult or impossible to determine the expected value, inflate the cuff until the mercury bar reaches approximately 210 mmHg.

Then unhurriedly unscrew the pump valve, releasing the air slowly from the cuff, thus causing the mercury value to drop (at a rate of about 2-3 mm Hg per second). Listen to your heartbeat as you deflate the cuff. The first one we hear corresponds to the systolic pressure. As the air cuff deflates, the audible tones will gradually become less audible until they disappear completely. The drop-out pressure is the diastolic pressure.

Currently, there are many easy-to-use blood pressure monitors on the market that automatically measure the pressure and the result appears on the screen. You can now buy, for example, the comfortable Omron M2 HEM-7121-E upper arm blood pressure monitor.

Are there special cuffs for children and obese people?

Children or adults with a smaller or larger arm circumference than the standard arm circumference may require the use of special cuffs. They are available at some pharmacies and medical supply stores. Ask your doctor for advice to determine the correct cuff size.

If you are looking for the right blood pressure monitor, check the wide range of models available on the Medonet Market.

How do I prepare for a blood pressure test?

The measurement can be made at any time of the day or night. However, it should be remembered that the examination should be performed under conditions of rest, with the hand resting on a hard surface and the arm approximately at the same level as the heart. If it is necessary to repeat the test, leave a minimum 1-minute break between subsequent measurements.

Avoid drinking caffeine, smoking, and taking medications that increase blood pressure (e.g. drugs that reduce nasal mucosa swelling) at least 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure. Avoid exertion and exercise during this time as well.

As you inflate the cuff, you may feel pressure around your arm. If the test is repeated several minutes apart, the hand may also feel numb and tingly. How often should I measure my blood pressure?

People with normal or low pressure values ​​(below 120/80 mm Hg) are recommended to measure every 2 years. Adults with high normal blood pressure values ​​(see below) should measure annually.

Most people, even when their blood pressure is high, do not have any noticeable symptoms of this condition. For this reason, blood pressure measurement is so important for the early diagnosis of hypertension.

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

If a doctor has diagnosed you with hypertension, blood pressure measurements will allow you to assess the effectiveness of your therapy and / or diet. As an auxiliary, it is worth using ON PRESSURE + Herbapol in Krakow – a dietary supplement containing, among others chokeberry, hawthorn and garlic with blood pressure lowering properties.

Blood pressure below normal levels can be the result of a number of medical conditions, including heart failure, infection, endocrine disorders, or dehydration.

Is blood pressure measurement safe?

Correctly performed blood pressure measurement is a test completely safe. If the test subject has a dialysis (renal replacement) fistula on one of the upper limbs, the pressure should be measured on the other hand.

What should I remember when measuring my blood pressure?

It is essential that you measure your blood pressure regularly. A single result cannot be the basis for a diagnosis of hypertension or hypotension (low blood pressure). It also cannot be used as a basis for excluding hypertension.

Home pressure measurements are a valuable resource for the clinician. If the measurement is performed precisely, it may provide more reliable results than the examination carried out in the office (due to the greater psychological comfort during the measurement). You can ask your doctor to compare the results of home and office measurements. For many people, a visit to a doctor is stressful and therefore blood pressure results are higher than at home. This is called white coat hypertension.

Types of devices for measuring blood pressure

There are two basic types of devices used to measure blood pressure: classic and automatic.

1. Classic pressure measuring device (sphygmomanometer). The brace is similar to the one your doctor uses in an office or hospital. The sphygmomanometer includes a cuff put on the arm, a pump that allows to inflate and deflate the cuff from air, a stethoscope and a scale that assesses the level of blood pressure.
2. Automatic (electronic or digital) pressure measuring device. Battery powered devices consist of a sensor applied directly to the skin, the cuff and an electronic panel that automatically inflates and deflates the cuff when activated. After the test, the blood pressure value is displayed on the monitor panel. This type of camera can be purchased in supermarkets, pharmacies and electronics stores. Electrical devices are not recommended for people with cardiac arrhythmias (eg atrial fibrillation) as the measurement may be erroneous.

There are also wrist sphygmomanometers on the market, which are designed especially for patients with limited mobility, for whom cuff placement is a problem. They are also recommended for young people who suffer from atherosclerosis. The wrist apparatus is also an excellent device for people who need to measure blood pressure frequently and are active at the same time (work, travel). Each wrist blood pressure monitor is battery powered. It also has the function of memorizing measurements.

In some situations it is necessary to make blood pressure measurement. It is an invasive method that measures the pressure in an artery after it is punctured directly.

Holter examination

The Holter test is a blood pressure measurement method that your doctor may ask you to, for example, if other blood pressure methods do not provide reliable results. Usually, the test is performed when there are large discrepancies between the results obtained in measurements at home and in a doctor’s office. The Holter test is conducted continuously for 24 hours. A cuff will be placed on your arm (the same as in the case of a classic and automatic pressure measuring device), and a monitor will be placed around the waist, which will periodically inflate and deflate the cuff, while recording the pressure values. The doctor ordering the examination will tell you how to use the equipment. Put on the recorder in loose clothes, so that you can easily hide the cuff and the device recording pressure measurements under it. In addition, on the day of the examination, it is necessary to take all medications taken on a permanent basis.

A single beep indicates that the measurement has been correctly made, while a double beep means that the measurement has not been recorded and the pumping will start soon. Measurement with a Holter device measures every 15 minutes during the day, and every half an hour at night (without a sound signal). After 24 hours, the patient returns the device to the laboratory where it was installed. The device is waterproof and safe even for pregnant women.

A single beep means that the measurement has been correctly performed, and a double beep indicates that the measurement has not been registered and the device will pump blood again after a while. After taking the measurement, you can resume your normal activities. Daytime measurements are performed every 15 minutes, and at night (without audible signal) every 30 minutes. After a day, the patient returns the device to the laboratory where the recorder was installed. You should come to the test in loose clothing, because you will need to hide both the cuff and the device recording blood pressure under it. On the day of the examination, you should take all your regular medications. The recording equipment is not watertight and must not get wet. Be careful not to damage the device.

The indications for the Holter examination are:

1. hypertension in pregnancy,
2. suspicion of hypertension,
3. monitoring the treatment of arterial hypertension,
4. night pressure drop assessment,
5. assessment of hypotension.

How is the test performed?

Detailed instructions. It is important to choose the correct size of the cuff to the circumference of the arm. A cuff that is too small or too large may affect the measurement result. Optimally folded, the cuff should cover 2/3 of the length of your arm. A cuff that is too narrow (e.g. a standard cuff used in an obese person) may inflate the pressure values, and a cuff that is too wide (e.g. a standard cuff used in an emaciated person or a small child) may lower the measurement values.

The pressure values ​​may slightly differ between one limb and the other (the permissible difference is 20 mm Hg). Always try to use the same limb for the measurement. Remember that blood pressure values ​​fluctuate throughout the day. The blood pressure is higher in the morning and lower in the evening. Ask your doctor what is the best time to measure in your case.

Interpretation of measurement results

Blood pressure values ​​below 90/60 mm Hg can be considered normal if it is not accompanied by any other symptoms. However, if you experience dizziness, weakness, fainting or vomiting, please consult your doctor.

How to interpret values ​​outside the range of norms?

1. Hypertension

1. Grade 1, mild hypertension: systolic blood pressure between 140 and 159 mm Hg and / or diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 99 mm Hg
2. Grade 2, moderate hypertension: systolic blood pressure between 160 and 179 mm Hg and / or diastolic blood pressure between 100 and 109 mm Hg
3. Grade 3, severe hypertension: systolic blood pressure over 179 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure over 109 mmHg

2. Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Diastolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg or 25 mm Hg lower than before.

The blood pressure level depends on a number of factors:

1. cardiovascular diseases
2. neurological disorders
3. diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract
4. pre-eclampsia in pregnant women or up to 6 weeks after birth
5. psychogenic factors such as stress, anger, fear
6. medications you are taking
7. “white coat hypertension”, which only occurs in a doctor’s office, as a result of the stress associated with visiting a doctor / hospital.

What else influences the measurement result?

If you have problems with your eyesight or hearing, using a classical blood pressure monitor may not be advisable. In this case, an automatic camera will be better.

The cuff of the camera is too wide or too narrow.

How can I lower the abnormal pressure?

1. If you are obese, try to lose weight.
2. Limit saturated fat and salt in your diet.
3. Take care of physical activity.
4. Try not to consume more than 1 standard dose of alcohol (1 glass of vodka, 1 glass of wine, or 1 medium beer) for women and 2 doses of alcohol for men per day.
5. Take medications as directed by your doctor.

Also check:

1. Man under pressure. How to take care of the heart and brain?