ABSTRACT
The measurement of a patient’s blood pressure is not, in itself, a difficult task. In daily practice, blood pressure is often measured using automated machines that have a high degree of accuracy. In the exam situation, the people will be using a manual sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure, like all aspects of physiology, is very changeable and dynamic. Many factors determine a blood pressure at any one point in time. Many people will have had their blood pressure taken before, and it is worth asking them before explaining the procedure to them. Incorrect sizing of the cuff can result in inaccurate blood pressure measurement. The cuff width should be at least 40% of the patient’s arm circumference. A significant postural drop occurs when the systolic pressure decreases by ≥20 mmHg and/or the diastolic pressure decreases by ≥10 mmHg, when the patient moves from lying to standing.
