Measuring Blood Pressure Lab

From my data, I learned that my systole was 120 and my diastole was 75 for test one. For test two, I learned that my systole was 140 and my diastole was 70. The two tests showed somewhat different results mostly likely because we did them so close to each other due to time. A typical blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. The first number represents the pressure when the heart contracts and is called the systolic blood pressure. The second number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes and it called the diastolic blood pressure.

This is my data for heart rates and blood pressure.

To measure heart rate, you need a stethoscope and your own two fingers to measure the pulse rate (radial and carotid). You use a stethoscope only when you find the pulse of your actual heart. Carotid arteries are located on your neck while radial arteries are located on your wrists. To measure blood pressure, you use an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. The sphygmomanometer contains an air bulb, valve, cuff, a pressure gage, etc.

Using your thumb to measure pulse is not ideal because there are large vessels located in the thumb that have their own pulse so it can interfere with the pulse you are trying to find.

Using a blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer) is simple once you understand the procedure. First, you wrap the cuff around the person's upper arm, making sure the cuff is located above the crease of the person's elbow. Make sure to put on a stethoscope so you can hear the pulse later on in the lab. Inflate the cuff gently while watching the pressure gauge. Keep inflating until the person's pulse disappears. When you reach about 150 mmHg, open the valve on the air pump slightly, making sure not too much air is released. Listen to the stethoscope carefully until you hear the heart beat start again. This is the systolic blood pressure (write it down). The sounds should continue to become louder. Write down when you hear the sound for the last time. This is called the diastolic blood pressure.

This is a picture of the stethoscope and sphygmomanometer we used.