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2026-09-29T15:53:13Z
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https://ideawaza.com/index.php?title=Archive:Blood_pressure&diff=44701
Archive:Blood pressure
2008-10-31T21:58:52Z
<p>77.160.213.198: /* Pitfalls */</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Taking a Blood Pressure'''<br />
==General==<br />
*No: <br />
**smoking or caffeine x 30 mins<br />
**constrictive clothing<br />
<br />
*Yes:<br />
**rest for ≥ 5 minutes<br />
**breathing normal and relaxed<br />
<br />
*During recording: no talking and patient’s legs uncrossed<br />
<br />
==Equipment==<br />
*cuff size <br />
**bladder width > 40 % of arm circumference<br />
**length > 80% of arm circumference<br />
<br />
==Positioning==<br />
*Level: devices and columns at eye level, patient’s arm held at heart level<br />
<br />
==Placement==<br />
*lower edge of cuff ~ 3 cm above elbow crease<br />
*bladder centered over brachial artery (palpate medial to biceps tendon)<br />
<br />
==Performance==<br />
*palpate radial pulse (note ''arrythmias'')<br />
*inflate cuff to ~ 30 mm Hg above palpable pulse<br />
*drop the pressure by 2 mm Hg / second (prolonged filling will lead to venous congestion, making the sounds harder to hear)<br />
*repeat '''after ≥ 2 minutes''' of standing to assess for '''orthostatic hypotension (drop in 20/10)'''<br />
<br />
*for all patients on the first visit, take at least '''2 readings separated by 2 minutes'''<br />
**if first 2 readings differ by '''> 5 mm Hg''', another reading is indicated<br />
**Elevated readings should be '''confirmed on 3 readings'''<br />
<br />
==Pitfalls==<br />
*anxiety, pain<br />
*arrhythmias<br />
*wrong cuff size (too small overestimates, too large underestimates)<br />
*Isolated office hypertension ('white coat' hypertension) (up to 25%)<br />
<br />
==Classification==<br />
(criteria for adults > 17 and not taking antihypertensives)<br />
<br />
*Optimal < 120/80<br />
*Normal < 130/85<br />
*High Normal < 140/90<br />
*Hypertension Stage 1 < 160/100<br />
*Hypertension Stage 2 < 180/110<br />
*Hypertension Stage 3 < 210/120<br />
*Hypertension Stage 4 > 210/120<br />
<br />
==Other OSCE modules==<br />
{{OSCE2}}<br />
[[Category: Cardiovascular Medicine]][[Category:OSCE]][[Category:Clinical Skills]]</div>
77.160.213.198