How Do You Read A Blood Pressure Cuff?
Blood pressure (BP) is the force exerted by the amount of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Taking the blood pressure involves measuring two numbers, the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the highest arterial pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood; diastolic pressure is the lowest arterial pressure when the heart is relaxed before it begins contracting again. Blood pressure recordings are presented in a way where systolic pressure is written above the diastolic pressure. Blood pressure cuff or sphygmomanometer is the apparatus used to detect blood pressure, and is by far, the most commonly used among all monitors. It is operated manually and its parts include an arm cuff, a rubber inflating bulb with an attached air valve, a built in stethoscope used for auscultation (not all models have a stethoscope, sometimes you have to provide it separately), and a dial gauge. The dial gauge has a pointer that moves clockwise when the cuff
