Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted by blood against the walls of blood vessels. It is an important indicator of cardiovascular health, and regular blood pressure checks are essential for detecting and managing hypertension (high blood pressure). Checking blood pressure with a cuff is a simple and non-invasive procedure that can be performed at home or in a clinical setting.
To check blood pressure with a cuff, you will need a blood pressure monitor, which consists of an inflatable cuff, a pressure gauge, and a stethoscope. The cuff is placed around the upper arm, and the pressure is inflated until the blood flow in the brachial artery (the main artery in the upper arm) is temporarily blocked. The pressure is then slowly released, and the pressure at which the blood flow is restored is recorded as the systolic blood pressure. The pressure at which the blood flow becomes completely unrestricted is recorded as the diastolic blood pressure.