How to Use a Manual Blood Pressure Monitor

Using a manual blood pressure monitor is an essential skill to have, as it allows individuals to accurately assess their own blood pressure. Blood pressure is an important indicator of heart health and knowing how to effectively take and read measurements can be life-saving. This essay will provide clear instructions on how to use a manual blood pressure monitor properly, as well as discuss the importance of understanding how to monitor one's own blood pressure.

Using a manually-operated or manual pressure cuff is a common way to monitor blood pressure. This form of blood pressure monitoring utilizes an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around the upper arm, between the elbow and shoulder ("Blood Pressure Measurement," n.d.). Attached to the cuff is a squeezing bulb, whereby an individual applies defined pressure to manually inflate the cuff (Garhöfer, 2017). Using a handheld stethoscope, a physician can listen for a particular sound, called Korotkoff, which indicates the systolic pressure (Garhöfer, 2017). Following this, air is slowly released from the cuff, to which the physician continuously listens for Korotkoff, until the sound is no longer audible, which indicates the diastolic pressure (Garhöfer, 2017). This process is repeated as necessary to ensure an accurate blood pressure reading. 

The use of the manual pressure cuff, or sphygmomanometer, has been a common tool for monitoring and diagnosing blood pressure since its invention in 1896 by Dr. Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch (Virag, 2015). This device consists of an inflatable cuff, and a stethoscope or oscilloscope, which are used to measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Generally, the inflatable cuff is placed around the arm and further inflated to compress the artery below it, which then can be heard using the stethoscope and recorded through the oscilloscope (Virag, 2015). The use of a manually-operated pressure cuff is still a primary method to monitor non-invasive blood pressure and is used by healthcare practitioners worldwide (Opara, 2017).  

Manual blood pressure monitors, also known as mechanical sphygmomanometers, are commonly used in medical settings due to their accuracy and precision("The History Of Blood Pressure Measurement,"2018). Their ability to read cuff pressures is particularly beneficial for accurately measuring blood pressure, as cuff pressures can vary in a cuffed patient due to low or high usage. Manual blood pressure cuffs are able to compensate for arms rotational, which is especially helpful when taking blood pressure readings in cuffed patients ("Cuff rotation for Accurate Blood Pressure Measurements," 2017). Manual pressure cuffs are also advantageous due to the fact that they typically take longer to read the pressure from the cuff on a cuffed patient than from a pressure cuff on an un-cuffed patient("Factors Effecting Accurate Blood Pressure Measurement," 2016). These features make manual blood pressure monitors a preferred choice compared to digital, wrist and arm cuffs when it comes to taking accurate readings.

Measuring your blood pressure is important for monitoring your overall health, and an automatic blood pressure monitor can help with this process. Automatic monitors use a cuff placed around your arm to quickly and accurately measure your systolic and diastolic pressure ("Measuring Blood Pressure Using an Automatic Monitor"). It is important to familiarize yourself with the device and read the manual in order to use it properly. First, you should ensure the cuff is the correct size for your arm and the arm should be at heart level while measuring ("How to Take a Blood Pressure Manually and With an Automatic Monitor"). You should also ensure the area where you are measuring is quiet and free of distractions, as noise can interfere with the accuracy. When you are ready to measure, press the start button and wait for the cuff to inflate automatically. The blood pressure monitor will then display the results on the screen ("Measuring Blood Pressure Using an Automatic Monitor"). 

Using a manual blood pressure monitor is a simple and effective way of keeping track of the cardiovascular health of oneself or a loved one. Taking advantage of this tool can be empowering and can help one to feel more in control of their own health. By accurately measuring blood pressure levels on a routine basis, one can detect changes in cardiovascular health that could indicate further medical attention is necessary. It is important to be mindful of proper technique and usage in order to get reliable results as well as to follow instructions given by the prescribing physician.

Here is a general guide to using a manual blood pressure monitor:

    1. Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit or lie down.
    2. Roll up your sleeve or remove any tight clothing from your upper arm.
    3. Rest your arm on a flat surface, such as a table, with the palm facing upward.
    4. Place the cuff around your upper arm, making sure it is positioned about an inch above the bend in your elbow.
    5. Secure the cuff in place by fastening the Velcro or other closure.
    6. Place the stethoscope earpieces in your ears and position the diaphragm (flat side) over the artery on the inside of your elbow.
    7. Inflate the cuff by pumping the bulb until the pressure gauge reads about 30 points above your expected blood pressure.
    8. Slowly release the pressure in the cuff by opening the valve or pressing the button. As you release the pressure, you should hear a sound through the stethoscope.
    9. When the sound disappears, take note of the reading on the pressure gauge. This is your systolic blood pressure (the higher number).
    10. Continue to slowly release the pressure until you hear the sound again. When the sound returns, take note of the reading on the pressure gauge. This is your diastolic blood pressure (the lower number).

It is important to take multiple readings at different times of the day to get an accurate picture of your blood pressure. It is also a good idea to have someone else check your blood pressure to confirm the results. If you have any concerns about your blood pressure or are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or chest pain, it is important to seek medical attention.

References:

Blood Pressure Measurement. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-pressure-measurement/about/pac-20385206

Garhöfer, G. (2017). Manual Measurement of Blood Pressure. Uptodate. Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/manual-measurement-of-blood-pressure 

Virag, Laszlo. "Ritual of Blood Pressure Measurement." Medical Heritage, vol. 31, no. 3, 2015, pp. 293-294.

Opara, Ebele. "Assessment of Blood Pressure Measurement by Auscultation Technique in Non-Communicable Disease Patients at A Nigerian Tertiary Hospital." Open Access Medical Education, vol. 5, 2017, pp. 63-68.

"Measuring Blood Pressure Using an Automatic Monitor." MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 28 July 2017,medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000674.htm.

"How to Take a Blood Pressure Manually and with an Automatic Monitor." Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic,my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/how-to-take-blood-pressure.

Cuff Rotation for Accurate Blood Pressure Measurements. Dynamed, EBSCO Information Services, 9 June2017, dyna.ehdp.com/Cuff-rotation-for-accurate-blood-pressure-measurements.

Factors Effecting Accurate Blood Pressure Measurement. StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, Feb. 2020,ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537189/.

The History of Blood Pressure Measurement. Excel Vitals, 2020, excelvitals.com/blog/the-history-of-blood-pressure-measurement.

 

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