Blood Pressure (BP) is most commonly measured by tightening a band or cuff around your arm and pumping up the pressure to the point that the blood flow there can not get past the constriction. As the arm cuff is slowly relaxed, there is a point at which the pumping force of your heart can overcome the pressure of the arm cuff. At that point, the blood makes a whooshing sound in your arm's blood vessels, which the doctor can hear with a stethoscope.>>>>
Measuring Blood Pressure Stethoscopes are merely listening devices used to conduct and amplify sound. The first sound heard below over the artery below the blood pressure cuff is the top number (or Systolic blood pressure).
Measuring Blood Pressure
Just as water running through a hose makes a whooshing or jet sound as you put your thumb over the end of a hose, so your blood does with the constriction. As the point that the doctor no longer hears any sound in the blood vessel (when the armband is relaxed) your blood flow is at its usual flow. This is the second number (bottom number or Diastolic blood pressure).
What is a Sphygmomanometer? (and will my doctor ever ask me to spell it?)
A Sphygmomanometer is a device which measures your blood pressure. It consists of a pressure guage connected to the blood pressure cuff and is used to help the doctor determine what the pressure is at the time that the systolic and diastolic sounds are heard. It may be applied to the arm cuff or mounted to the wall. It literally reflects the blood pressure in the artery for you or your doctor to see.
Blood Pressure Cuffs
By the way, your doctor needs to pump up the cuff sometimes to a pressure higher than you may feel is comfortable. This is not intended to punish you or raise your blood pressure (hopefully). Remember you can always get back at your doctor by asking him to spell Sphygmomanometer!