PART TWO VIDEOS ABOUT HOW TO MEASURE THE BLOOD PRESSURE THE RIGHT WAY TO TAKE BLOOD PRESSURE

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Watch this how to measure blood pressure video

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Why do I need the right size cuff for blood pressure?


First of all, you need to be sure you are using a blood pressure cuff that is the right size for you. If your arm is too large and the cuff is small your blood pressure will be recorded as higher than it really is. You can buy a larger size cuff for a larger arm.

Instructions for how to measure blood pressure with a blood pressure cuff or machine

Rest for 3 to 5 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Do not talk.

Sit in a comfortable position, with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported.

Place your arm, raised to the level of your heart, on a table or a desk, and sit still.

Wrap the correctly sized blood pressure cuff smoothly and snugly around the upper part of your bare arm. The cuff should fit snugly, but there should be enough room for you to slip one fingertip under the cuff.

Be certain that the bottom edge of the cuff is 1 inch above the crease of your elbow.

Place the stethoscope disk on the inner side of the crease of your elbow.

Inflate the cuff by squeezing the rubber bulb to 30 to 40 points higher than your last systolic reading. Inflating the cuff too slowly will cause a false reading.

Slightly loosen the valve and slowly let some air out of the cuff. Deflate the cuff by 2 to 3 millimeters per second.

As you let the air out of the cuff, you will begin to hear your heartbeat. Listen carefully for the first sound. Check the blood pressure reading by looking at the pointer on the dial. This number will be your systolic pressure.
Continue to deflate the cuff. Listen to your heartbeat. You will hear your heartbeat stop at some point. Check the reading on the dial. This number is your diastolic pressure.