Clinical Skills: Assessing Brachial Blood Pressure

Clinical Skills: Assessing Brachial Blood Pressure

This lesson covers blood pressure which is basically the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. The following will be covered:

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​1. Definition of blood pressure.

​2. Factors that can increase or decrease blood pressure.

​3. Systolic and diastolic readings.

​4. The five stages of blood pressure.

​5. Symptoms of high blood pressure.

​6. Equipment used to obtain a blood pressure measurement.

​7. Procedure for obtaining a blood pressure measurement.

​8. Reading Blood Pressure.

​Introduction ​

Hello!​

​It's important to get an accurate blood pressure reading so that you have a clearer picture of your risk for heart disease and stroke. Measuring your blood pressure also helps prevent diseases such as hypertension and hypotension. The only way to know whether your lifestyle changes or medications are working is to check your blood pressure regularly. This is why it is vital to have a clear understanding on blood pressure.

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​Welcome!​

​​1. Definition of blood pressure.

​- Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels.

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- Most of this pressure results from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system.

​​2. Factors that can increase or decrease blood pressure.

Factors that increase or decrease blood pressure include;

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​1. Cardiac output

​2. Blood Volume

3. Resistance

-Artery Diameter​

​4. Blood Viscosity​

Multiple Choice

Which of the following refers to a factor that increases or decreases blood pressure?

• Peripheral vascular resistance

• Volume of blood

• Viscosity of blood

• All of the above

​3. Systolic and diastolic readings.

​- Systolic blood pressure, the top number, measures the force your heart exerts on the walls of your arteries each time it beats.

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- Diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number, measures the force your heart exerts on the walls of your arteries in between beats.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following refers to the bottom number that measures the force your heart exerts on the walls of your arteries in between beats?

• Diastolic blood pressure

• Systolic blood pressure

4. The five stages of blood pressure.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT among the five blood pressure stages?

• Extended

• Elevated

• Normal

• Hypertensive crisis

​5. Symptoms of high blood pressure.

​People who have high blood pressure may not experience any physical symptoms and may not be aware that their blood pressure is high.

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However, during a hypertensive crisis, people with a blood pressure above 180/120 mm Hg may experience symptoms such as:

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- chest pain

- shortness of breath

- blurry vision

- headache

- nosebleed

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a symptom of a hypertensive crisis?

• Chest pain

• Headache

• Nosebleed

• All of the above

​6. Equipment used to obtain a blood pressure measurement.

​- The sphygmomanometer usually called the “blood pressure cuff” is the equipment used to obtain a blood pressure measurement.

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​- All blood pressure cuff devices work basically in the same way and have the same parts–a bladder, a handbulb with release valve, a tube connecting the handbulb to the bladder, and a gauge (either mercury or aneroid) for measuring pressure.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following medical equipment is used to obtain blood pressure measurement?

• Endoscope

• Sphygmomanometer

• Thermometer

• Catheter

​7. Procedure for obtaining a blood pressure measurement.

​- The cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated to stop the flow of blood in your artery.

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- As the cuff is slowly deflated, your doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the blood pumping through the artery.

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- These pumping sounds register on a gauge attached to the cuff.

- The first pumping sound your doctor hears is recorded as the systolic pressure, and the last sound is the diastolic pressure.

Multiple Choice

The first pumping sound your doctor hears is recorded as?

• Systolic pressure

• Diastolic pressure

8. Reading Blood Pressure

Multiple Choice

Which of the following terms refers to a device that measures pressure?

• Manometer

• Thermometer

• Microscope

• Endoscope

Multiple Choice

Which of the following terms refers to the units of measurement of mercury?

• KG

• POUNDS

• MMHG

• LBS

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the reading obtained from a sphygmomanometer when the sound stops?

• Diastolic blood pressure

• Systolic blood pressure

Multiple Choice

Which of the following refers to the top number that represents when the heart contracts with full force?

• Diastolic blood pressure

• Systolic blood pressure