To manually check blood pressure, you need a blood pressure cuff, a stethoscope, and an aneroid monitor. Here's how to do it:
Steps for Manual Blood Pressure Check
- Position the Cuff: Place the blood pressure cuff on the upper arm, ensuring it's snug but not too tight.
- Stethoscope Placement: After inflating the cuff, place the stethoscope just inside the elbow crease, directly under the cuff.
- Deflation and Listening: Slowly deflate the cuff, listening through the stethoscope for sounds. These are called Korotkoff sounds.
- Systolic Pressure: The number on the aneroid monitor when you hear the first sound is your systolic pressure.
Understanding Blood Pressure Readings
- Systolic Pressure: This is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. It's the top number in a blood pressure reading. As noted above, this is determined by listening through the stethoscope for the first Korotkoff sound as the cuff deflates.
- Diastolic Pressure: This is the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. It is the bottom number in a blood pressure reading and is determined by listening through the stethoscope for the last Korotkoff sound as the cuff continues to deflate.
Example of a Blood Pressure Reading
Let's say during your manual check, you heard the first sound at 120 and the last at 80; your blood pressure reading would be written as 120/80.
Important Considerations
- Accuracy: Always make sure the stethoscope is placed correctly and that the cuff is the correct size for accurate results.
- Practice: It takes practice to identify the Korotkoff sounds. Seek training if you're unsure.
- Limitations: Manual pressure checks can be affected by external factors like room noise, proper stethoscope positioning and user skill.
