Lab - Blood Pressure

Blood pressure

force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels - measured with a sphygmomanometer

Tool for manual blood pressure

sphygmomanometer

Where are the tools placed to measure blood pressure?

Cuff is on biceps brachii, stethoscope on anticubital fossa

Artery from where BP is typically measured

brachial artery

What produces Korotkoff sounds?

Turbulence when blood flow is restored through the brachial artery

Factor that can increase BP

Time of day, lack of physical activity, dietary sodium, stress/anxiety, medications

Systolic pressure

ventricles at contraction, force of blood pushing against walls of blood vessels when ventricles are contracting to propel blood away from the heart

Diastolic pressure

Sounds disappear, the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels when the ventricles are relaxing to fill with blood

Factor that can decrease BP

Medications (betablockers), mornings

Hypertension

high blood pressure (above 130/80)

Hypotension

low blood pressure (below 90/60)

Orthostatic (postural) hypotension

Sudden drop in BP upon standing (20 systolic, 10 diastolic)