Blood pressure measurement: what are the principles of correct procedure + 10 principles

Measuring blood pressure has its own principles that must be followed. Otherwise, the measurement result may be flawed.

A falsely measured high or low pressure can mistakenly determine or, on the contrary, not detect hypertension or hypotension.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a long-term condition. It starts in youth. However, it may not yet be apparent at this time.

It affects a large proportion of the adult population of the world.

During the latent period, it causes damage to the human body. It has a negative effect on the heart, blood vessels, brain, eyes or kidneys.

High blood pressure does not hurt.
It is hidden, unnoticed (asymptomatic).
It does not occur until the body can no longer adapt.
Acute or chronic complications may result.

At the point when the organism is no longer able to adapt further, problems arise. These can be less or more severe.

It happens that the first manifestation of high blood pressure are difficult health complications. Examples can be a sudden onset stroke or heart attack to sudden death. The opposite of the later is also heart failure.

Hypotension, on the other hand, is low blood pressure. It's better to have lower pressure than high. But that doesn't apply to the entire possible range on the blood pressure scale.

In the case of severe hypotension, there is a risk of collapse and associated injury. Or the person is tired, weak, inefficient and dizzy or foggy-headed.

So what is the ideal pressure value?

The ideal blood pressure value is somewhere in the range of 100/70 to 120/80 mmHg.

A reading of more than 140/90 is hypertension.
And at 90/60 we are talking about hypotension.

Blood pressure values in one place.

Systolic (upper) and diastolic (lower) pressure:

The first value determines the systolic blood pressure.
- the pressure when the blood leaves the heart (when the heart muscle contracts)
- the highest value of blood pressure
- also popularly referred to as the upper pressure
the second value determines the diastolic blood pressure
- the blood pressure when the heart muscle relaxes
- also colloquially known as the lower heart pressure

By ignoring the symptoms of hypotension or hypertension, we are setting ourselves up for trouble.

When to measure your blood pressure?

The European Society of Hypertension recommends that we measure our blood pressure regularly. A reliable and validated blood pressure monitor should be used for the measurement.

The correct size cuff for the measurement is also necessary.

So when should you measure your blood pressure?

Always when we feel unwell and have health problems. And this is especially true for people being treated for hypertension or, conversely, hypotension.

The initial home check should be for 7 days.
The blood pressure is measured twice in the morning and twice in the evening.
The readings should be written down.
The doctor will compare these with his or her own measurements or also with the 24-hour method of measuring blood pressure.

24-hour blood pressure measurement = ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or also Holter blood pressure measurement.

Once diagnosed with hypertension, it is sufficient if a person measures their blood pressure 2 times a week.

When health problems occur.

We can take an indicative measurement of blood pressure even if we are not treated for blood pressure, for our own use. Alternatively, it is checked by a doctor during a preventive check-up and other examinations.

Warning.

Excessive blood pressure measurement is not recommended.

The measurement itself can stress a person, even subconsciously.
This fear of the result increases the value.

Blood pressure falls during the day and rises again

This vital sign is not constant either. Several factors influence its values.

What affects the value of blood pressure:

Physical activity
psychological stress, stress or mental well-being, fatigue, sleep
body position, sitting, lying down or standing
gender
age
circadian rhythm and time of day (circadian rhythm), variations over a 24-hour period
- season, part of the week, over weeks and months
pain
other diseases
medications

Blood pressure tends to be higher on Mondays, at the beginning of the week.
It also varies with the season.
It drops during sleep and rises in the morning.

Measurements are best taken in the morning before taking medication. Also in the evening before taking blood pressure medication.

Know the correct measurement procedure.
+ principles.
Read on with us.

How to measure blood pressure correctly?

Finally, we come to the principles of blood pressure measurement.

Why take your blood pressure at home, you ask?

Home measurements make sense, as occasional measurements at the doctor's office may not be telling enough.

There are people who are afraid of doctors and professional examination. You must have heard the term white coat syndrome - more precisely, isolated hypertension in the ambulance. The pressure rises in the ambulance, even if it is within the ideal range during normal life.

In the outpatient clinic, blood pressure is higher:
systolic by more than 20 mmHg and diastolic by 10 mmHg than when measured at home.

Or.

There are situations such as masked hypertension or nocturnal hypertension.

We have various devices to measure. Semi-automatic or automatic digital blood pressure monitors are widespread and available. These measure pulse or heart rate along with pressure. Some can also detect heart rate regularity.

This feature is also useful as it can detect cardiac arrhythmias.

Modern devices in watches, wristbands, apps in mobile phones also promise more accessible methods for checking some basic vital signs.

10 principles of correct blood pressure measurement in the table

1.	Environment	Quiet and calm Do not talk to the person when taking the measurement. the conversation will raise the blood pressure by 6-7 mmHg other people in the vicinity should also be quiet no one should walk through the room or do anything in the room Adequate room temperature
2.	Location	sitting - do not move sitting with back support lower limbs loose on the floor not crossed upper limb with cuff loosely placed on the mat at heart level pressure gauge at heart level seated work also increases systolic blood pressure by approximately 6 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 5 mmHg non-compliance can distort the pressure value by about 0.8 mmHg per centimetre of deviation lying down - the diastolic pressure value will be lower by 5 mmHg standing, for special needs only
3.	Measurement page	on both upper limbs a higher value is considered appropriate beware of too high differences, they may indicate an aortic problem when measuring on one, measure on the right upper limb on the left arm, pressure readings tend to be lower
4.	Activity	rest and relax for at least 5 minutes (even after walking) before measurement rest for 2-3 hours after heavy physical activity 2 hours before measurement - no smoking, alcohol, coffee, energy drinks, caffeinated drinks beware of a full bladder during the measurement = blood pressure is then 10 mmHg higher
5.	Clothing	clothing should be loose fitting sleeve on the measuring side cannot restrict blood flow do not roll up the sleeve thin clothing such as a shirt or blouse may not affect the measurement it is better to expose the upper limb, to undress it
6.	Number of measurements	2-3 times 2 minutes break between measurements average of the measured values at irregular heart rate 5 measurements in some cases repeated measurements while standing in case of dizziness for other diseases
7.	Size and position of the cuff	is important for the accuracy of the measurement adequately sized cuff universal cuff multiple cuff types, for adults, children, obesity shoulder cuff table for choosing the right cuff measuring the median circumference of the shoulders lower edge of the cuff 2.5 to 3 centimetres above the elbow socket observe the marked location and position of the cuff on the shoulder usually the cuff tube is directed to the centre of the elbow socket wrist cuff may have a less accurate result depends on the quality of the device wrist at heart level cuff at a height of 1-2.5 cm above the wrist position according to the markings so that the pressure gauge measures correctly on the artery the cuff should neither be too loose nor too tight and constricted
8.	Measurement time	the same measurement time best in the morning after waking up physiological rise in blood pressure sharp rise early in the morning and on waking up time of numerous heart attacks or strokes before taking medication 2 to 3 times during the day at an agreed check-up (morning, lunch, evening)
9.	Recording of values	Recording values is important especially in the long term checking with the doctor and optimising drug therapy blood pressure app and pressure recording table some of the functions of blood pressure monitors and apps, depending on the type and when connected to a computer or online service memory of the blood pressure monitor arrhythmia indication evaluation of hypertension and increased cardiovascular risk alerts for movement during measurement
10.	Inflating the cuff	inflation and deflation of the cuff is slow and smooth automatic pressure gauges regulate the speed with manual pressure gauges cuff inflation for maximum inflation when the pulse on the radial artery disappears, the artery on the thumb side of the wrist add 30 mmHg resulting in maximum cuff inflation example: pulse 120 + 30 = 150 mmHg to inflate the cuff when inflating the cuff, about 2-3 mmHg per second

Read about diseases:

Overview of the principles

Environment
Location
measurement side (right or both hands)
rest 5 min
loose clothing
average
cuff
measurement time (morning)
respiration rate

Heart, blood vessels and cholesterol,

Bc. Lukáš Tóth

Healthcare worker

The secondary medical school in Nitra gave me the basis for my career in the field of health and diseases. Thanks to it, I worked for 2 years in the traumatology clinic and outpatient clinic at the Nitra Hospital. Since 2006 I was employed in the emergency medical service, where I stayed until 2017. I completed my bachelor's degree at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra in the field of emergency health care. The bachelor's degree allowed me to continue my mission as a paramedic. In the meantime, I got a job at the emergency line 155. I have been working in pre-hospital health care until today. I had an interest in people, health and even diseases in my childhood, which gave me the prerequisite to pursue this topic in adulthood. Studying and acquiring new information in practice provided me with a great basis for writing professional texts, in the form of articles that can be understood by ordinary people. Thus, my interest in the Health Portal has a solid foundation in years of practice and personal interest. Similarly, I am also interested in healthy eating, nutrition and overall healthy lifestyle. I fill my free time with family and sports.

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