How to Take Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is an important indicator of the level of functioning of the heart. This is why BP is such an important parameter when it comes to finding out if there is any problem in the circulatory system. However, the important part of taking blood pressure is taking it in such a way that the readings obtained are as accurate as possible. In the olden days, one could take BP without cuff, as the method was highly invasive, wherein a pressure gage was directly placed into an arterial vessel to check the blood pressure. However, there are many non-invasive ways of checking blood pressure that are available today. So, given below are details on checking blood pressure by different methods, like with the use of a stethoscope and without the use of a stereoscope.

Check Blood Pressure Without Stethoscope

Pulse Method
This is one of the most basic methods of measuring blood pressure. In this method, you do not need a stethoscope but you need a blood pressure measuring device known as a sphygmomanometer. This device consists of a mercury column, cuff, tube, air bulb and a pressure valve. Here, the pulse is first identified. Then, the cuff is placed around the arm and is secured and inflated. Then, as the cuff is inflated, check the reading at which the pulse disappears. This will be your systolic blood pressure reading. This is a very crude method of checking for blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure cannot be measured by this method. Furthermore, the reading obtained may not be very accurate.

Oscillometric Method
You can use the oscillometric method to take blood pressure at home. However, this is once again a relatively crude and is mostly used as a confirmatory method of cross checking the blood pressure reading obtained. In this method, the cuff is secured to the arm and is inflated to a reading slightly higher than the expected blood pressure. Then, the pressure is slowly released and the mercury column is closely monitored. When blood is allowed to flow through the cuff but only in a restricted manner, then the mercury column will oscillate in synchrony with the movement of the brachial artery. This method may be used by untrained staff who do not know how to use a stethoscope. However, the readings obtained may not be very accurate.

Check Blood Pressure With Stethoscope

Auscultatory Method
This is one of the best ways of taking blood pressure correctly. In this method, both, the stethoscope and the sphygmomanometer, are required. The steps for taking blood pressure by the auscultatory method are as follows:

• The patient is made to lie down and the cuff is wrapped around his upper arm. The inside of the elbow, that is the point at which the arm can be flexed, is known as the cubital fossa. When you flex your arm, you can feel a slightly hard structure, which is a tendon. Medial to this tendon, that is on the inner side of this tendon is an artery. This is the brachial artery.
• Wrap the cuff just above the brachial artery and place the diaphragm of the chest piece of the stethoscope on the brachial artery in the cubital fossa.
• Once the cuff is tightly in place, start inflating the cuff by closing the valve and pumping the air bulb.
• Increase the pressure till it is just above the normal systolic blood pressure, like till around 150 mm of Hg.
• Slowly start releasing the pressure till you hear the heart sounds on the stethoscope. The reading at which the first heart sound is heard is the systolic blood pressure. Keep slowly reducing the pressure till the heart sound starts to fade away. When the sound completely disappears, then this reading will be the diastolic blood pressure.

Nowadays, there are many ways where the blood pressure can be obtained without the use of a stethoscope or a sphygmomanometer. Such monitors are known as finger blood pressure monitors. These help to check BP regularly and conveniently at home. So now that you know how to check blood pressure with or without a stethoscope, ensure that you check your blood pressure as often as possible so as to keep a check on any kind of circulatory disturbances in your body.