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Measuring blood pressure part 3: the patient
(using an aneroid sphygmomanometer)
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pdf of Procedure 
About this procedure:
This procedure discusses some of the factors that can influence blood pressure, including patient’s position, anxiety and environmental noise. It describes how to read the scale and how to record the blood pressure accurately. (Note that an alternative version of this procedure is also available, showing use of a mercury sphygmomanometer.)
Author:
Demonstrated by Richard Hatchett, Principal Lecturer Adult Nursing, London South Bank University.
Last updated:
April 2008; last reviewed May 2009
References:
Hjortskov N, Rissen D, Blangsted AK, et al. (2004) The effect of mental stress on heart rate variability and blood pressure during computer work. Eur J Applied Physiol 92 (1-2): 84-89. www.springerlink.com/content/tawr8yuyqt0fk0kf/
Le Pailleur C, Montgermont P, Feder JM, et al. (2001) Talking effect and “white coat” effect in hypertensive patients: physical effort or emotional content? Behavorial Medicine 26(4): 149-157. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9524049
McKay DW, Campbell NRC, Darab LS et al. (1990) Clinical assessment of blood pressure. J Human Hypertension 4: 639-645. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2096205
Noordzij M, Viterwaal CS, Arends LR et al. (2005) Blood pressure
response to chronic intake of coffee and caffeine: a meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials. J Hypertension 23:
921-928. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15834273&dopt=Abstract
O'Brien E, Asmar R, Beilin L. (2003) European Society of Hypertension
recommendations for conventional, ambulatory and home blood pressure
measurement. Journal of Hypertension 21: 821-848.
http://www.bhsoc.org/bp_monitors/ESH_BP_rec.pdf
Ragueneau I, Michaud P, Demolis JL, et al. (1999) Effects of cigarette smoking on short-term variability of blood pressure in smoking and non-smoking healthy volunteers. Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology 13: 501-507. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10456293
Thomas SA, Freed CD, Friedmann E, et al. (1992) Cardiovascular responses of patients with cardiac disease to talking and exercise stress testing. Heart and Lung 21: 64-73.
Williams B, Poulter NR, Brown MJ, et al. (2004) The BHS Guidelines Working Party Guidelines for Management of Hypertension: Report of the Fourth Working Party of the British Hypertension Society, 2004 – BHS IV. J Hum Hypertens 18: 139-185. http://www.bhsoc.org/Latest_BHS_management_Guidelines.stm
Wingfield D, Pierce M, Feher M. (1996) Blood pressure measurement
in the community: do guidelines help? J Human Hypertension
10: 805-809. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9140786&dopt=Abstract
Key Reading:
Beevers G, Gregory YHL, O’Brien E. (2001) Blood pressure measurement. Part II—Conventional sphygmomanometry: technique of auscultatory blood pressure measurement. Br Med J 322: 1043-1047. www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7293/1043
British Hypertension Society website: www.bhsoc.org
Hellmann R, Grimm SA. (1984) The influence of talking on diastolic
blood pressure readings. Res Nurs Health 7:
253-256. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6570054&dopt=Abstract
National Institute for Clinical Excellence. (2004) Hypertension:
Management of Hypertension in Adults in Primary Care. London: NICE.
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG34/guidance/pdf/English
Parr GD, Poole PH. (1988) Effects of sphygmomanometer type and position
of the arm on blood pressure measurement. J Hypertens 2:
153-156. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3236319&dopt=Abstract
Skills for Health:
This procedure links to the following
competences on the Skills for Health website:
CHS19 – Undertake physiological measurements
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
To access the Skills for Health site, you must register first, but this
is free. Log in with your user name and password, then click on “Competence
Search” in the menu on the right-hand side. We recommend copying
and pasting the number of the competence given above into the
search box (for example, CHS19) and then clicking on “Search”.
The competence you want should then be among the results listed. Although
we will update any titles that we find have gone out of date, please
note that, because the Skills for Health competences are updated regularly,
you will need to check the Skills for Health website to confirm that
the competences listed above are still valid.
Related Procedures:
Measuring
blood pressure part 1: equipment (featuring alternative sphygmomanometers
to mercury)
Measuring blood pressure part
2: procedure (featuring alternative sphygmomanometers)
Measuring blood pressure
part 1: equipment (featuring mercury sphygmomanometers)
Measuring blood pressure
part 2: procedure (using a mercury sphygmomanometer)
Measuring blood pressure
part 3: the patient (using a mercury sphygmomanometer)
Measuring blood
pressure lying/sitting and standing
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pdf of Procedure