Measuring Blood Pressure

1. In the systolic blood pressure, it is the first time you will hear the blood pumping through the artery as well as the maximum pressure that is achieved during the ventricle contraction. When the sound disappears, it is caused by the ventricles relaxing and the arterial pressure decreases. The diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure that is in the artery before the next ventricular contraction.

2. In order to measure heart rate, you will need to use a stethoscope, and when measuring heart rate a sphygmomanometer is used.

3. When you are measuring your pulse, make sure that you do not use your thumb. Your thumb has a pulse as well and can cause you to either miscount or get confused while counting your pulse.

4. When using a sphygmomanometer:
     1.) Make sure the cuff is fully deflated before placing it on your upper arm, making sure that it fits comfortably. Take the pump in your non-dominant hand, ensuring that your fingers can reach the valve at the top and be able to open and close the opening on the air pump.
     2.) Put the end of the stethoscope slightly underneath the cuff and slightly above the crease of the individuals elbow.
     3.) Inflate the cuff by squeezing on the pump. Make sure to watch the pressure gauge while pumping, and stop around 150 mmHg or when the pulse stops.
     4.) When the pressure gauge reaches 150, slowly open the valve on the pump. Make sure not to open the valve too quickly.
     5.) Listen to what you hear as the needle on the gauge slowly drops. The first time you hear a pulse, check the number on the gauge, this is the systolic blood pressure.
      6.) The sound will get louder, but when you hear the sound fade out and stop, look at the number on the gauge. This is the diastolic blood pressure.