Define blood pressure
Blood pressure is the measurement of pressure or force exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries in which it is contained
Describe the mechanism of blood pressure
Each time the ventricles contract, blood is pushed out of the heart and into the aorta and pulmonary trunk, exerting pressure on the walls of the arteries
Explain the difference between systolic and diastolic
Systolic represents the highest point of blood pressure on the body (systolic pressure) and diastolic represents the lowest number because during diastole the heart is relaxed in between contractions (diastolic pressure)
State the normal blood pressure of an adult
120/80
List and describe the factors that affect blood pressure
Age- as age increases the blood pressure also gradually increases. As an individual gets older, there is a loss of elasticity in the walls of the blood vessels causing an increase in pressure to occur
Gender- after puberty woman tend to have a lower blood
Identify the different parts of a stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer
A stethoscope amplifies the sound produced by the body and allows the medical assistant to hear them. It has the following four parts:
*earpieces
*sidepieces (BINAURALS)
*plastic/rubber tubing
*chest-piece
(diaphragm and a bell)
The sphygmomanometer is an
How much of the arm should the bladder encircle?
80% but not more than 100%
Explain how to prevent errors in blood pressure management
Instruct the patient to not consume caffeine or exercise within 30 minutes of having their blood pressure taken
Allow the patient to relax in a room for at least 15 minutes (this prevents patient anxiety and an increase in blood pressure)
Always use the p