A Blood Pressure (BP) measurement in its simplest form is a determinant of individual cardiac output (the volume of blood pumped out of the heart and into the aorta per minute) and the systematic vascular resistance (the diameter of the arterial blood vessels)
Many factors can influence a BP reading, for example, age, sleep, emotions and activity. Consequently, evidence in the literature varies as to what constitutes a normal reading, and optimal parameters are often used instead.
The normal BP at rest has the range of 110-140 mmHg for systolic and 70-80 mmHg for diastolic BP. Hypertension (high BP) refers to measurements that exceed the resting systolic parameters and hypotension (low BP) refers to those that fall below resting systolic parameters.
The manual auscultation technique is considered the gold standard for BP measurement, advances in medical technology have resulted in alternative ways of measuring and monitoring BP.
Moreover, while electronic devices have become the ‘go to method’, it is essential that healthcare professionals maintain the skills and confidence in using the manual method, especially for patients with hypertension, hypotension or pulse irregularities. Pulse irregularities can cause inaccuracies in electronic readings and this can lead to false diagnosis and incorrect treatment.
When taking a blood pressure it’s important to listen for Korotkoff sounds which are generated when a blood pressure cuff changes the flow of blood through the artery. These sounds are heard through either a stethoscope or a doppler that is placed distal to the blood pressure cuff.
Phase 1 is a sharp tapping sound and indicates the systolic blood pressure. Phase 2 is a swishing sound associated with blood flow. Phase 3 transitions to a softer thump, while Phase 4 is a thump that becomes muffled. The diastolic blood pressure is determined when all sound ceases at Phase 5.
#learning #clinical #education #trending #doctor #medical #nursing #paramedics #paramedicstudent #medicalstudent