BIOS Diagnostics Protocol 7D - Ensuring Accurate Measurements; Preparation Before Measurement; Common Measurement Errors; Fitting the Blood Pressure Cuff

!"EFORE-EASURING
s !VOIDEATINGSMOKINGANDALLFORMSOFEXERTIONDIRECTLYBEFORETHEMEASUREMENT!LLTHESEFACTORSINmUENCE
the measurement result. Relax by sitting in an armchair or at a table in a quiet atmosphere for about 5
minutes before the measurement.
s !LWAYSTAKEMEASUREMENTSONTHESAMEARMNORMALLYLEFTANDINTHESAMEPOSTURE$ONOTSWITCHBETWEEN
right and left arms while recording your blood pressure as there may be a difference of up to 10mmHg
pressure between the two arms.
s !TTEMPTTOCARRYOUTTHEMEASUREMENTSREGULARLYATTHESAMETIMEOFDAYSINCEBLOODPRESSURECHANGES
during the course of the day. The ideal time to measure your blood pressure is in the morning after you wake
up, before breakfast and physical activity, and in the absence of the urge to urinate.
s 2ESTFORMINUTESSITTINGQUIETLYANDRELEASEALLTHETENSIONINYOURBODYESPECIALLYTHEARMMUSCLESBEFORE
beginning with the measurement. Remain calm and quiet when the measurement is in process. Do not speak
or move your arm (as well as other body muscles) during the process.
s )DEALLYYOUWILLBESITTINGATATABLEWITHBOTHFEETONTHEmOORANDYOURARMRESTINGONTHETABLEWITHTHE
cuff at heart level.
3.3B Common Sources of Error
All efforts by the patient to support the arm can increase the blood pressure. Make sure you are in a
comfortable, relaxed position and do not activate any of the muscles in the measurement arm during the
measurement. Use a cushion for support if necessary.
!44%.4)/.
#OMPARABLEBLOODPRESSUREMEASUREMENTSALWAYSREQUIRETHESAMECONDITIONSWITHAPEACEFUL
and calm environment. Ensure that you take measurements under the same conditions to obtain an
accurate estimate of blood pressure variation patterns.
s )FTHEARMARTERYLIESCONSIDERABLYLOWERORHIGHERTHANTHEHEARTANERRONEOUSVALUEOFBLOODPRESSUREIS
measured. Each 15 cm difference in height results in a measurement error of 10 mmHg.
s !LOOSECUFFCAUSESFALSEMEASUREMENTVALUES
s 7ITHREPEATEDMEASUREMENTSBLOODACCUMULATESINTHEARMWHICHCANLEADTOFALSERESULTS#ONSECUTIVE
blood pressure measurements should be repeated after at least a 15 second pause or after the arm has been
HELDUPINORDERTOALLOWTHEACCUMULATEDBLOODTOmOWAWAY
#&ITTINGTHE7IDE2ANGE#UFF
a) Put the end of the cuff (with fastener) through the metal ring,
making the cuff a cylinder. (Ignore this step if your cuff is already
set up.) Proper assembly allows the Velcro
®
to match up properly.
b) Place the cuff around your arm. Make sure the bottom edge of the
cuff is about 1” (2-3 cm) above the elbow joint. Adjust the cuff so
that the rubber tubing under the cuff lies over the brachial artery,
which runs on the inside of the arm (see Fig. B). The red material
should be over the brachial artery.
a)
b)