Blood Pressure Testing and Measurement

Prior to Test

The care staff may talk to you about the current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take.

Description of Test

You may be asked to sit quietly for a few minutes to relax. This may make the results more accurate.

A soft cuff will be wrapped around the upper arm. It will be inflated with air. The cuff will press on the large artery in the arm. It briefly stops the flow of blood when it is inflated. The air in the cuff will then be slowly released. A stethoscope will be used to listen for the sound of blood as it begins to flow again. Sometimes the cuff will be put on your leg instead of your arm.

Two numbers will be recorded from the attached gauge. The first sound that is heard is the systolic pressure. This is the pressure when the heart is squeezing and pushing the blood forward. It will be recorded as the top number. The last sound to be heard is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure when the heart is relaxing. It will be recorded as the bottom number of the reading.

Some blood pressure machines automatically inflate and deflate. The machine will record blood pressure and display the reading.

After Test

You can go back to normal activities.

How Long Will It Take?

Less than a minute

Will It Hurt?

You will not feel pain from the reading.

Results

Blood pressure is measured in mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). Possible results are:

• A blood pressure reading of less than 90 over 60 may be a sign of hypotension
• A blood pressure less than 120 over less than 80 is considered normal
• A blood pressure between 120-129 over less than 80 is classified as elevated
• Having many accurate blood pressure readings that are all 130-139 over 80-89 is stage 1 hypertension
• Having many accurate blood pressure readings that are all 140 over 90 or higher is stage 2 hypertension

More testing or a treatment plan may be needed if the results are not normal.