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How to Use a BP Cuff

Monitoring blood pressure is an important part of overall health. For those with a personal or family history of high blood pressure or hypertension, staying on top of these readings can help you to know when to alert your doctor of possible health issues. One of the most popular means of monitoring blood pressure is the cuff. Blood pressure cuffs go around the arm and have a layer of rubber inside which fills with air and then squeezes the arm.

Things You'll Need

  • Blood pressure cuff
  • Stethoscope
  • Digital blood pressure reader
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Instructions

  1. Using the Cuff Manually

    • 1

      Seat yourself comfortably with your back supported. Do not cross your legs or ankles, as this can inhibit blood flow and give an inaccurate reading.

    • 2

      Position your left arm on a table which is at the same height as your heart.

    • 3

      Attach the cuff around your upper left arm. It should be snug and yet loose enough to insert a finger under the cuff. The bottom of the cuff should be an inch above your elbow crease.

    • 4

      Place the stethoscope in your ears and put the disk on the inner crease of your elbow.

    • 5

      Quickly pump air into the cuff by squeezing the rubber bulb. If you inflate it too slowly, the reading will not be accurate.

    • 6

      Loosen the valve a little and remove some air from the cuff. The ideal rate at which to do this is 2mm to 3mm per second. Loosening the valve too much will give an inaccurate reading.

    • 7

      Listen to the stethoscope carefully. You can check blood pressure by reading the pointer on the dial. This number will be your systolic pressure. You will start to hear your heartbeat as the air leaves the cuff.

    • 8

      Deflate the cuff further, while listening to your heartbeat. Eventually you will stop hearing your heartbeat. At this point check the reading on the dial. The number here is your diastolic pressure.

    • 9

      Record your blood pressure, with the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure.

    • 10

      Wait two to three minutes before repeating the process if you wish to double-check your reading.

    Using the Cuff Digitally

    • 11

      Seat yourself comfortably with your back supported. Do not cross your legs or ankles, as this can inhibit blood flow and give an inaccurate reading.

    • 12

      Position your left arm on a table which is at the same height as your heart.

    • 13

      Attach the cuff around your upper left arm. It should be snug and yet loose enough to insert a finger under the cuff. The bottom of the cuff should be an inch above your elbow crease.

    • 14

      Start the blood pressure machine. You will feel the cuff begin to inflate.

    • 15

      Read your blood pressure numbers on the electronic screen and record them.

    • 16

      Push the deflation button to expel the air from the cuff.

    • 17

      Wait two to three minutes before repeating the process if you wish to double-check your reading.

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