Taking and recording blood pressure and pulse. City Gate Training all rights reserved 2013

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1 Taking and recording blood pressure and pulse City Gate Training all rights reserved 2013

2 What actually is Blood Pressure? Definition: Blood pressure is a pressure in the arteries generated by the heart.

3 Systolic Blood Pressure Systolic (Higher) Blood Pressure - The blood pressure when the heart is contracting. In a blood pressure reading, the systolic pressure is typically the first number recorded. For example, with a blood pressure of 120/80 ("120 over 80"), the systolic pressure is 120. By "120" is meant 120 mm Hg (millimetres of mercury).

4 Diastolic Blood Pressure Diastolic (Lower) blood pressure measures the pressure in your blood vessels between heartbeats, when your heart is resting. In a blood pressure reading, the diastolic pressure is second number recorded. For example, with a blood pressure of 120/80 ("120 over 80"), the diastolic pressure is 80. By 80" is meant 80 mm Hg (millimetres of mercury).

5 Normal Blood Pressure Why word NORMAL is with quotation marks? Because Blood pressure varies with: Age Gender Physical ability Stress Metabolic activity

6 Blood pressure and age When age is between 20 to 24 years old the following blood pressure records will be normally expected when measuring: SP (Systolic Blood Pressure) up to 140 mmhg for males and between 100 to 130 mmhg for females DP (Diastolic Blood Pressure) between 62 to 88 mmhg for males and between 60 to 85 mmhg for females

7 Blood pressure & pregnancy Pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes the walls of the blood vessels during first & second semester Blood pressure decreases and it is lowest when woman reaches 18 to 20 weeks of a pregnancy At around the same time total blood volume increases by an extra litter Normal blood pressure in pregnancy 5 to 10mmHg in SP and 10 to 15mmHg in DP

8 Importance of measuring blood pressure in pregnancy Watching out of signs of pre-eclampsia Before 20 weeks pregnancy high blood pressure: essential hypertension also known as pre-existing high blood pressure After 20 weeks, high blood pressure is called gestational hypertension. Developed during pregnancy.

9 Before you measure blood pressure The blood pressure can differ between the right arm and the left arm, and therefore also the measured blood pressure values can be different. It is recommended always to use the same arm for measurement. If the values between the two arms differ substantially, please check with physician which arm to use for your measurement. To record readings you need to measure blood pressure at least twice

10 Before you measure blood pressure To take a measurement, subject need to be relaxed and comfortably seated, under comfortable room temperature. No eating, smoking or exercising 30 minutes before taking a measurement. Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Sit upright with your back straight The cuff should be at the same level as your heart.

11 How to measure and record blood pressure? The most common way used in hospital, GP surgeries and nursing homes is INDIRECT: Auscultatory Method or Automatic

12 Auscultatory Method Stethoscope Korotkoff Sound Sphygmomanometer containing Riva Rocci cuff, Rubber Bag, Hg manometer, hand pump containing valve

13 Measuring Blood pressure by auscultation method Subjects sit on a comfortable chair with either their left or right arm resting on a flat surface. After removal of any restraining clothes, a cuff of appropriate size is wrapped around the upper arm 2-3cm above the elbow.

14 Measuring Blood pressure by auscultation method The cuff is inflated to a pressure of mmhg. After placing the stethoscope drum on the Brachial artery, the pressure in the cuff is released gradually, after a while sounds can be heard (Korotkoff sounds) until the first heart sound is heard (this is the systolic pressure), pressure drop is allowed to continue when further sounds can be heard. The disappearance of the last sound determines the diastolic pressure.

15 Measuring Blood Pressure by automatic method Automatic Oscillometric - Cuff required

16 Measuring Blood Pressure by automatic method Subjects sit on a comfortable chair with either their left or right arm resting on a flat surface. After removal of any restraining clothes, a cuff of appropriate size is wrapped around the upper arm.

17 Measuring Blood Pressure by automatic method Press the O/I START button. The cuff will start to inflate automatically. The buzzer will sound when measurement is completed. Wait 2-3 minutes before taking another blood pressure measurement. Waiting between readings allows the arteries to return to the condition prior to taking the blood pressure measurement.

18 Pulse What is PULSE? The rhythmic expansion and contraction (or throbbing) of an artery as blood is forced through it by the regular contractions of the heart It is a measure of how hard heart is working

19 Pulse Your pulse can be felt at the wrist, neck, groin or top of the foot - areas where the artery is close to the skin. Most commonly, people measure their pulse in their wrist. This is called the radial pulse.

20 Pulse

21 How to measure Pulse? Taking your pulse is easy. It requires no special equipment, however, a watch with a second hand or digital second counter is very helpful. Turn the palm side of your hand facing up. Place your index and middle fingers of your opposite hand on your wrist, approximately 1 inch below the base of your hand. Press your fingers down in the grove between your middle tendons and your outside bone. You should feel a throbbing - your pulse. Count the number of beats for 10 seconds, then multiply this number by 6. This will give you your heat rate for a minute. Pulse is measured beats per minute BPM

22 What is the normal Heart Rate? Newborn pulse between BPM Babies from 1 to 12 months BPM Children from 1 to 2 years old BPM

23 Children from 2 to 6 years old BPM Children from 6 to 12 years old BPM Children from 12 years old and adults BPM WHY?

24 Pregnancy & pulse If an average BPM was70 before pregnancy it is normal to rise this up to 85 or 90 BPM Since the body increases in size, the heart must accommodate the growth and increase output by about 30%.

25 Hypertension What is Hypertension? - Hypertension is a high blood pressure What causes hypertension? - For more than 90% of people with high blood pressure, the cause is unknown. This is called 'primary' or 'essential hypertension'.

26 - In the remaining 10% or so, there is an underlying cause. This is called 'secondary hypertension'. Some of the main causes for secondary hypertension are: - chronic kidney diseases - diseases in the arteries supplying the kidneys - chronic alcohol abuse - hormonal disturbances - endocrine tumours.

27 What can we do to prevent hypertension? Change your lifestyle: stop smoking lose weight exercise regularly cut down on alcohol eat a varied diet reduce stress by trying different relaxation techniques, or by avoiding stressful situations

28 Good website to look at before we try to measure blood pressure our self!

29 Ref: NEMO (2010) Heart rate and pulse. Available online: Netdoctor (2010) High blood pressure (hypertension).available online at: Accessed on 17 November 2010 ehow mum (2012) Normal pulse rate in pregnancy. Available online at: Accessed on 6 th June 2012