Blood Pressure Measurement Care
Learn
- Overview
- What It Is
- Reasons For
- Complications
- What to Expect
- Results
- When to Call a Doctor
Blood Pressure Measurement Details
Unless instructed otherwise, you should sit quietly for a few minutes. This ensures a more accurate reading of your resting blood pressure.
Description of TestA soft cuff will be wrapped around your upper arm and inflated with air. The cuff will press on the large artery in your arm. When inflated, it will briefly stop the flow of blood. The air in the cuff will then be slowly released. The person taking your blood pressure will use a stethoscope to listen for the sound of blood as it begins to flow again. Sometimes the cuff will be put on your leg instead of your arm.
Two numbers will be recorded from the attached gauge. The first sound that is heard is the systolic pressure. This is the pressure when the heart is squeezing and pushing the blood forward. It will be recorded as the top number. The last sound to be heard is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure when the heart is relaxing. It will be recorded as the bottom number of the reading. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
Some blood pressure machines automatically inflate and deflate. The machine will record your blood pressure and provide you with a reading.
After TestIf the reading is part of a routine exam, in most cases you can resume your normal activities.
How Long Will It Take?Less than a minute
Will It Hurt?There may be some momentary squeezing pressure as the cuff inflates around your arm. A blood pressure measurement should not be painful.
Learn
 Complications Learn about possible complications and what might increase the risk of them. |
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 What to Expect Find out how long it will take, what they will be doing and what to expect afterwards. |
 Results What are the next steps and other possible tests needed after you have received the results. |
