Blood Pressure Research Paper

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BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES Abstract: This essay covers the different aspects of blood pressure; the history behind the discovery of blood pressure and its risk factors as well as the common medical terminology related to blood pressure. Not only that, it also reviews the different classification of blood pressure level in general as well as to specific age groups. Lastly, it covers the different approaches to measure blood pressures and discusses about the comparison between the different methods to measure blood pressure. These are the contents covered in the essay: Introduction Brief history on the discovery of blood pressure Definition of blood pressure Factors affecting blood pressure Some common Medical Terminology relating…show more content…
The cross-sectional area is greatly reduced due to fat deposits in the inner walls of the arteries, and this will in turn increase the pressure in the arteries and decrease blood flow though the vessels. The picture below shows the narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessel, reducing the blood flow through it, and eventually there will be a blood clot in the artery. 1.2.2 Some common Medical Terminology relating to blood pressure Systolic pressure – the highest pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pushes blood out from the heart the arteries to the rest of the body. Diastolic pressure – the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats. Angina – Chest pain, tightness or discomfort. Hypertension – High blood pressure. Hypotension – Low blood pressure. Atherosclerosis – Narrowing of lumen in the arteries due to increase of fatty deposits in the inner layer of the arteries. Angioplasty – Medical procedure whereby a small balloon in the catheter is inflated when already inserted into an artery to widen the lumen and increase blood flow through the…show more content…
Wrap the cuff (of the correct size) on the left upper arm of the patient. Adjust the cuff such that it lies on the patient’s arm without exerting any pressure on the artery when it is in its non-inflated condition. Ensure that the tubing faces downwards and lies outside of the upper arm. In the process of measuring the blood pressure, the patient’s arm should remain in a relaxed manner; no contractions of muscles. Place the stethoscope downstream from the cuff and around the inner side of the arm. Inflate the cuff by pumping the rubber-squeeze-ball until the mercury reading on the manometer reads at about 140mmHg. Release the discharge valve slowly and take note of the manometer reading until the first Korotkoff sounds could be heard. The reading on the manometer is the systolic pressure. The Korotoff sounds will gradually become softer and then disappears when the diastolic pressure is reached. Thus, this makes it harder to measure the diastolic pressure than that of measuring the systolic

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