vital signs blood pressure PP

measurement of vital signs are important because

these are body’s indicators of a person’s general health

medical assistants main responsibility is

obtaining a patient’s vital signs

accurate measurement is essential

variations in vital signs may mean a change in patient’s general health

vital signs are

patient’s blood pressure

temperature

pulse

respirations

factors that can influence vital signs

fear, anxiety

hurried to or walked to appointment

emotional news

fearful or anxious patients may have

vital signs higher than usual

patients that have hurried to or walked to their appointments may have

higher blood pressure than normal

emotional news just before their appointment can cause

change in BP and/or pulse rate

MAs should help patient relax before taking any readings

or second readings may be necessary later, once the patient has been able to calm down and relax

blood pressure

reflects pressure of blood against walls of arteries

two pressure readings

systolic pressure

diastolic pressure

systolic pressure

highest pressure level that occurs when heart is contracting and first pulse beat heard

diastolic pressure

lowest pressure level when heart is relaxed and is last sound heard

systole and diastole together make up

cardiac cycle

blood pressure is read in

millimeters of mercury abbreviated mmHg

blood pressure is recorded as a fraction on patient chart

systolic reading is on top and diastolic is on bottom

newborn normal BP

60-96/30-62

1-3 years normal BP

78-112/48-78

4-6 years normal BP

78-112/50-79

7-11 years normal BP

84-114/52-79

adolescent normal BP

94-119/58-79

adult normal BP

100-119/60-79

physiologic factors that influence blood pressure

blood volume

blood viscosity

vessel elasticity

condition of heart and arterial walls

blood volume

increased blood volume increases bp

decreased blood volume drops bp

blood viscosity

bp is higher with smaller diameter of vessel

vessels become narrower or smaller with fatty deposits and bp raises

vessel elasticity

bp is increased with decreased elasticity

condition of heart and arterial walls

weak heart muscle and arterial walls cause bp to increase

normal BP

systolic less than 120

diastolic less than 80

preH BP

systolic 120-139

diastolic 80-89

hypertension BP

systolic 140 or higher

diastolic 90 or higher

sphygmomanometer

instrument used to measure blood pressure

calibrated instrument

sphygmomanometer consists of

inflatable cuff

inflation bulb with control valve

pressure gauge

sphygmomanometer blood pressure mechanism consists of

aneroid dial attached to inflatable cuff

measuring bp hearing occurs through

stethoscope

objective of measuring blood pressure

use inflatable cuff to obliterate circulation through an artery

stethoscope is placed over artery just below cuff and cuff is slowly deflated to allow blood flow again

as sounds return readings are taken as first sound and last sound

Korotkoff sounds

two basic heart sounds heard during cardiac cycle

first sound is lubb and usually dull firm sound

second sound is dupp and usually shorter and sharper sound

lubb-dupp is one heartbeat

common causes of error in blood pressure readings

cuff is applied improperly

cuff is too large too small too loose or too tight

limb is above level of heart

rubber bladder is not completely deflated

pressure in cuff is released too quickly

patient is nervous or too anxious

patient drank coffee or smoked within previous 30 min

cuff is not placed smoothly on arm

bladder is not centered over artery or bladder is bulging out

practitioner fails to wait 2 min between measurements

instrument is defective- air leaks in valve, air leaks in bladder, aneroid needle not calibrated to zero

MAs should strive to be accurate when

taking blood pressures

MAs must remember to check their equipment

daily

MAs must remember that they are not qualified to diagnose

when a patient asks if their blood pressure is better, they should simply answer by telling the patient what their blood pressure is that day

reinforce that they should discuss any questions with the doctor