Can someone explain to me how to check a blood pressure using the kind with a squeezeable bulb on the end?

Question

My mom has high blood pressure and she doesn't want to have to leave home to go get it checked all of the time.

Answer 1

I am assuming that you plan to use a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope; if so, here is how to employ them:
First have your mother sit in a comfortable position and extend the arm which you intend to use with her palm up. (Generally it is immaterial which arm). Place the blood pressure cuff around her upper arm so that the two protruding tubes (the one with the bulb and the one with the meter) lie across the crease at her anterior elbow. Put the stethoscope ear pieces into your ears. Take your fingertips and feel for a pulse near the center of her elbow. (If you can find it, you can use it as the site for the diaphragm of the stethoscope, but if you can not, simply place the diaphragm in the center of the forearm just below the elbow crease.) When you have the stethoscope diaphragm in place, pump the bulb while watching the needle on the meter; unless your mother has routinely extremely high blood pressure, it should be sufficient to pump the bulb until the meter's needle reads about 200. At that point, begin to release the air by turning the screw on the bulb very slowly, meanwhile listening carefully for your mother's heartbeat. When you first hear it, note the placement of meter's needle; that will indicate your mother's systolic (or pumping) pressure or the upper number as you would write it. Continue to release the air from the cuff, listening to your mother's heartbeat until you can no longer hear it. Note again the needle's position on the meter; that will be your mother's diastolic (or resting) pressure, the lower number as you write it. After you have practiced a few times, you will find that the procedure is quite simple and foolproof. I hope that this has been helpful to you and what you were wanting to know/

Answer 2

If you're using the really old fashion kind with a stethoscope, here's how: put the cuff on the arm just above the elbow. Put the stethoscope under the cuff just above the inside of the elbow. Squeeze the bulb until the needle reaches 200. (This is just a starting point. If your mom has high blood pressure, you might have to move the needle past 200.) Using your thumb and first finger, turn the knob above the bulb SLOWLY, letting the air out. Look at the dial and listen to when you first hear what sounds like a heart beat. Note that number. Keep letting the air out slowly and listen to when you stop hearing the heart beat. Note that number. Now you should have a reading such as 120/60 or 180/70. This is the number that you should record. You can practice on other people too until you get the hang of it. It's not hard, it just takes practice.

Answer 3

Talk to her doctor's office and they may be able to help teach you. But basically you put the cuff on so that it lines up (about) with the artery (you'll feel it pulsing) in her inner elbow. You will then need a stethescope. Put the stethescope over that artery, pump the bulb (make sure the valve is closed) until you hear her pulse stop....or at least until you are over what she usually is...then you will slowly release the air by turning the valve (if it's a knob, or pushing the lever if it has that). When you hear the pulse come back, that is the top number. Keep listening and slowly letting air out. When the pulse goes away again, that is the bottom number. It takes a lot of practice, but can be done. The other option is that her insurance company may cover an electric BP machine...you can check. Her doctor will still likely want to see her every 3-6 months depending on how well controlled she is, as they may need to adjust her medications and will need to blood work on occasion to make sure her heart and kidneys and doing OK. Also, make sure she gets a dilated eye exam once a year...important b/c high BP can cause serious problems with the eyes. Good luck!

Answer 4

You need a stethoscope. Put the blood pressure cuff on the arm and turn the knob so the air doesn't leak out. Inflate the cuff to about 220. Put the stethoscope under the edge of the cuff where the elbow bends (on the inside of the arm) Loosen the knob so that the meter falls at about 2mmHg at a time. The first time you hear the beat, that is the top number. You might start seeing the needle pulse before you hear the pulse, but don't start counting till you hear it. The last time you hear the pulse is the bottom number. If you hear the pulse immediately at 220, inflate the cuff a little more.

Answer 5

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 6

Close the valve on the bulb so the air doesn't leak when you pump it. Place cuff snugly around arm pump to about 160 then very slowly open the valve and watch and listen closely the first sound you hear is the top number when you can't hear the beat anymore that is the bottom number.

Answer 7

I would recommend looking for a professional site or instructions so that you get the best possible advice.

Might I recommend:

http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/teaching/undergrad/projects/2003/group_03/how.html

My compliments.