Blood pressures?

Question:

.....whats the good way read and hear blood pressures.....

Answers:
The most accurate is the two step method. Use a sphygnomanometer along with a stethescope and pump the cuff till you can no longer feel the pulse in the radial artery. Look at this reading and remember where the dial is on the Sphygnomanometer. Put your stethescope in the bend of the arm at the Brachial Artery and pump the cuff 100 mg of mercury above the reading on the wrist was. Slowly let the air out of the cuff. The reading that the sphyg shows when you hear the first beat is the Systolyic reading (top number). The reading on the sphyg when you hear the last beat is the Dyastolic reading (bottom number).

sr: Thank you, and you are right, I went back and looked at the answer and found that I had said Carterid artery.that is the artery in your neck! SO SORRY! I went back and corrected that, the best point of pressure for the stethescope to be is the BRACHIAL artery, the one on the inside of your upper arm, (against the humerus). The radial is on your wrist between the radius and ulna, the bones in the lower arm.

sphygmomanometer

Usually, Wal Mart or K mart have free blood pressure checking machines. My doctor says they are accurate enough to give you a good idea where you stand.

Filling up Amber L's answer:
You'll notice small "bumps" on the indication, i.e. going from a lower indication to a somewhat higher indication, the indications go usually together with the hearing in stethoscope, it's a nice easy way to associate it.

Note: the stethoscope must be placed over the radial artery, try searching for a pulse over it with your index finger

Blood pressures?

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