1.26.08 Blood Pressure (sphigmomanometers :))

Get handout for health questionairres.

Blood Pressure

Systolic/Diastolic (sbp/dbp) Risk strat is >or = 140/ >or = 90

Norms
ACSM pg. 44
Prehypertension is 120-139/ 80-90 Red flag

Resting BP: 5 min. seated in a chair, using the back, feet on the ground (legs uncrossed) arms at side or on lap.

Taking BP

1. Ask subject to relax arm
*maintain arm at heart level
*do not grasp handlebars or treadmill bar
2. Wrap cuff firmly
*lower edge of cuff about 1" above anticubital fossa
*cuff should cover 80% of the upper arm (3 cuff sizes)
(too small: overestimates bp)
(too big: underestimates bp)
3. Place bell of stethoscope on or jst below anticubital fossa on brachial artery (medial side of elbow)
4. Quickly inflate cufff to ~200 mmHg or 20 above estimated bp
5. Release pressure @ rate of 2-5 mmHg per sec.
6. Mentally record 1st Korotkoff sound (SBP-thud) and 5th Korotkoff sound (DBP-silence).




How Blood Pressure responds to exercise: what you should expect to see.

Go over case studies.

Linear increase with increasing exercise intensity for SBP and a relatively consistant line for DBP.

If you do not see a rise in SBP-STOP! Could be an impending cardiac event.