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It's a good idea to have your blood pressure checked regularly. However, if you suffer from "white coat hypertension" — a state of anxiety which causes your blood pressure to skyrocket as soon as you are approached by a medical professional wearing a dreaded stethoscope — it can be difficult to get an accurate reading. Taking your own readings at home can eliminate this anxiety and allow you to estimate your average blood pressure in day-to-day, real-life situations.
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Advertisement ReferencesAbout This ArticleArticle SummaryX To check your blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer, sit down, raise your arm to heart level, and rest your elbow on a stable surface to support it. Next, wrap the cuff around your upper arm and place the wide head of the stethoscope flat against the skin on the inside of your arm. Then, put the earpieces of the stethoscope in your ears and clip the pressure gauge to a stable surface where you can see it. Finally, pump the bulb rapidly to inflate the cuff. Keep pumping until the needle on the gauge reaches 180mmHg, then release the valve and note your systolic and diastolic readings. For tips on interpreting your results, read on! Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 746,011 times. Reader Success Stories
Did this article help you?How do you measure blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer?To measure blood pressure, your doctor uses an instrument call a sphygmomanometer, which is more often referred to as a blood pressure cuff. The cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated to stop the flow of blood in your artery.
How do you use a sphygmomanometer step by step?How to Use Sphygmomanometers. Know your basic knowledge of blood pressure readings. Blood pressure readings are expressed as systolic over diastolic pressure. ... . Use proper-sized cuffs. ... . Properly place the cuff on the arm. ... . Position the stethoscope. ... . Inflate the cuff. ... . Listen and observe. ... . Repeat the procedure on the other arm.. What is the correct way to check blood pressure?Sit in a comfortable chair with your back supported for at least 5 minutes before your reading. Put both feet flat on the ground and keep your legs uncrossed. Rest your arm with the cuff on a table at chest height. Make sure the blood pressure cuff is snug but not too tight.
How do you read numbers on a sphygmomanometer?We record this with the systolic pressure first (on the top) and the diastolic pressure second (below). For example, if the systolic pressure is 120 mmHg (millimetres of mercury) and the diastolic pressure is 80 mmHg, we would describe the blood pressure as '120 over 80', written 120/80.
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