V - How
to measure high blood pressure?
Principles
5.1 - The
most reliable method: to place a probe measuring the pressure directly
in the artery
5.2 - The
most useful method: The measure of the blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer
with a cuff
Measurement
of the blood pressure
5.3 - At rest
at the doctors
5.4 - At rest
at home, using a self-measurement device
5.5 - During
a physical exercise
5.6 - Measurement
by an ambulatory monitoring of the blood pressure during 24 hours
Description of the device
5.7 - The
cuff
5.8 - Method
for the measurement of the blood pressure
5.9 - The
sphygmomanometer
5.1 -
The most reliable method: to place a probe measuring the pressure
directly in the artery
Indeed, the most reliable
but aggressive method consists in placing an arterial pressure probe
directly into the artery... This technique is sometimes carried
out during an exceptional cardiological examination (like a coronarography,
a catheterization), but this method is not used in current practice.
Recording
of the blood pressure using a probe introduced into the aorta:
first historical method of measurement of blood pressure (1732,
Stephen Hales).
Nevertheless, there are two exceptions: sometimes, when the blood pressure
is very high and the patient does not complain about anything, the diagnosis
of calcification of the arteries can be suspected. In this case, the blood
pressure measured with a arm band (or cuff) is abnormally raised and must be
evaluated by the introduction in the artery of a pressure probe.
The patients treated in
an intensive care unit who require a permanent monitoring of their
blood pressure represent the second exceptional case. A pressure
probe is thus introduced in the artery of the wrist or in the artery
of the thigh.
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last modified on : 28 sep 2003 |
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