How to Take Blood Pressure : Inflating a Blood Pressure Cuff

When you take a blood pressure reading it is important to inflate the blood pressure cuff until you no longer hear a pulse. Learn more about how to inflate a blood pressure cuff with tips from a doctor in this free health video.

Expert: Dr. Robin Terranella
Bio: Dr. Robin Terranella has a medical degree from Bastyr University and has trained at Wu Hsing Tao Acupuncture School.
Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• blood
• pressure
• health
• high
• readings
• hypertension
• hypertensive
• free
• how
• to
• Expert
• Village

[Jettagirl11]

needs to be more detailed

[GuardianAngel5150]

@MrBluebike2008 Because they're diogn it wrong. That person was probably inflating it more than it should be, that's why you have to do it THIS WAY WHICH IS THE ONLY RIGHT WAY TO ACCURATELY GET THE INFLATION CORRECT! THE REST ARE WRONG WAYS AND INACURRATE WAYS

[GuardianAngel5150]

Thank you for being the only video on Youtube showing how to inflate it correctly. Everyone else? You eyeballing it? Or you guys inflating it automatically to only a certain number?

You're doing it wrong. You have to infate until you don't hear anymore and add the 30 to get the ACCURATE inflation and a n ACCURATE blood pressure.

[Boris194786]

I have been measuring my blood pressure without using a stethoscope. I release the air as slow as possible and, while carefully observing the gauge needle descending, the systolic reading is taken when the needle slightly starts oscillating. When the needle stops oscillating I take the diastolic reading.

For this method to work it is necessary to tighten the unpressurized cuff as much as possible to the arm before inflating it, otherwise the needle motion will not be noticeably.

[abervintageman42]

@cindylou0183 wow im suprised, they taught me in my EMT-Basic class to only palpate if the environment is too noisy

[cindylou0183]

@abervintageman42 Yes! That is the way they are teaching us in nursing school...and the way I prefer it that is if I have time

[abervintageman42]

@cindylou0183 you still palpate the blood pressure?!

[cindylou0183]

No you don't listen for the pulse in the brachial artery to stop you feel for it...much easier. And no electronic devices are not more accurate I have been a CNA for 9 years and am currently in nursing school and I still prefer to take blood pressure the old school way!

[kc958]

So this is what you learn in medical school...

[fool1shmortal]

I wish these places would just use the electronic versions. I understand they're more accurate, anyway.