What happens to the blood vessel when the cuff is inflated during a blood pressure reading?

As the cuff inflates, it squeezes your arm. Blood flow through the artery stops for a moment. The nurse or technician opens a valve on the hand pump to slowly release the air in the cuff and restore blood flow. He or she continues to listen to blood flow and pulse and records your blood pressure.

When taking a blood pressure at what point should you stop inflating the cuff?

Keep inflating the cuff until the gauge reads about 30 points (mm Hg) above your expected systolic pressure. At this point, you should not hear your pulse in the stethoscope.

Does a blood pressure cuff stop blood flow?

The pressure in the cuff will temporarily stop all blood flow in your arm.

What happens if a blood pressure cuff is deflated too quickly?

Excessive deflation rates are one of the most common causes of measurement error – often distorting readings by 10mmHg to as much as 20mmHg. When the deflation rate is too quick, the observer’s reaction time – much slower than the rapid deflation rate – may result in gross underestimation of blood pressure.

Why does the sound stop when you inflate the cuff higher than the client’s systolic pressure?

Thus the artery is completely compressed, there is no blood flow, and no sounds are heard. The cuff pressure is slowly decreased. At the point where the systolic pressure exceeds the cuff pressure, the Korotkoff sounds are first heard and blood passes in turbulent flow through the partially constricted artery.

How does a cuff measure blood pressure?

The cuff then inflates until it fits tightly around your arm, cutting off your blood flow, and then the valve opens to deflate it. As the cuff reaches your systolic pressure, blood begins to flow around your artery. This creates a vibration that’s detected by the meter, which records your systolic pressure.

Why must we quickly inflate the pressure in a blood pressure cuff?

When inflating the blood pressure cuff for actual measurement, you should inflate the cuff to 30 mmHg greater than the estimated systolic value. This avoids over-inflation and subsequent patient discomfort from increased pressure. It also avoids the error of an auscultatory gap.

Why is blood pressure lower when arm is raised?

The arm must also be horizontal at the level of the heart as denoted by the midsternal level. Dependency of the arm below heart level leads to an overestimation of systolic and diastolic pressures and raising the arm above heart level leads to underestimation.

How does a blood pressure cuff work?

Typically, blood pressure monitors work by inflating a cuff until it temporarily cuts off blood flow through the brachial artery. The pressure in the cuff is then slowly released. Within the cuff, a sensor detects blood flow.

How does a sphygmomanometer measure blood pressure?

Sphygmomanometers indicate a patient’s blood pressure by measuring mean arterial pressure and then calculating systolic and diastolic measurements. The device is composed of a dial, pump, cuff and valve. Once the cuff is inflated, it applies pressure to the brachial artery.

How do you deflate a blood pressure cuff?

Alternatively, the cuff should be inflated 10 mm Hg above the last sound heard. The valve in the pump is slowly opened. Air is allowed to escape no faster than 5 mm Hg per second to deflate the pressure in the cuff to the point where a clicking sound is heard over the brachial artery.

How is a blood pressure cuff attached to a patient?

The procedure involves tying the cuff around the arm of the patient and increasing the pressure of the cuff by pumping the pump attached at the end. Now what happens when you are increasing the pressure is you are actually exerting the pressure on artery and trying to collapse it.

How does a mercury sphygmomanometer work?

Mercury sphygmomanometers similar to this are still in use today. The cuff is wrapped around a superficial artery (usually the brachial) and inflated using the rubber bulb. The high pressure in the cuff is transmitted to the artery, which eventually collapses, inhibiting blood flow to the lower arm.