How to Reading blood pressure gauge?

Unpack your blood pressure reading equipment. Some people use the newer electronic blood pressure devices, this article will discuss using the manual blood pressure cuff and stethoscope to do the blood pressure readings. If you are using an electronic blood pressure device follow the instructions provided with your product. If you are using the manual method follow the steps that follow.

Wrap the blood pressure cuff around your upper arm just above the elbow. Most cuffs come with an indicator on it, this indicator should be aligned with the inside of the arm where the brachial artery runs. If your cuff does not have an indicator then the 2 rubber tubes coming from the cuff should run into the inside of the elbow. The cuff should be fairly tight but not too tight.

Place the stethoscope on the inside of the elbow in line with the indicators mentioned above and inflate the cuff. The cuff should be inflated to about the 180mmHg - 200mmHg indicators on the pressure gauge.

Open the release valve slowly to release the pressure, listen closely using the stethoscope until you hear your pulse and note the value on the pressure gauge. This is the higher reading also known as the Systolic Blood Pressure Reading.

Open the release valve slightly further to release more pressure. Once you cannot hear your pulse any longer, note the value. This is the lower of the 2 readings also know as the Diastolic Blood Pressure.

If done correctly you should have a reading that looks as follows: 120/90 mmHg.

• Normal: 90-120mmHg/60-80mmHg
• Pre-Hypertension: 120-140mmHg/80-90mmHg
• Hypertension Stage 1: 140-160mmHg/90-100mmHg
• Hypertension Stage 2: 160-180mmHg/100-120mmHg