Blood Pressure Cuffs - FYI - Important - There are 2 Sizes
Now that I have educated you on blood pressure cuffs, it is YOUR responsibility to request the correct size cuff. Do you want your doctor to prescribe blood pressure medication if you don't need it...all because the wrong sized cuff was used for the reading? Have I made my point?
Lots of Hugs,
Janelle
Comments
-
Good To Know!
Thanks Janelle. I really never paid a lot of attention to their cuffs. I often hope that it will be done quickly as I do dislike the whole procedure.
With only one arm available and if that arm has an IV in it, they use my foot. I try not to watch.
This is important information for we all have blood pressure taken for every procedure and appointment.
Best,
Doris0 -
Several sizes
Point is - use the right sized cuff at all times. An 'out of your norm' (be it higher or lower than you usually show) by a machine should be rechecked manually.
I thought everyone knew that the correct cuff had to be used to get accurate readings. Actually, there are more than 2 different cuff sizes - smaller arms have to have smaller cuffs also. All the facilities I go to have both 'average' and larger cuffs on each machine so there is no going hunting for either - they do have to go find the smaller cuff when needed though.0 -
I was hoping that there were more than 2 sizesRague said:Several sizes
Point is - use the right sized cuff at all times. An 'out of your norm' (be it higher or lower than you usually show) by a machine should be rechecked manually.
I thought everyone knew that the correct cuff had to be used to get accurate readings. Actually, there are more than 2 different cuff sizes - smaller arms have to have smaller cuffs also. All the facilities I go to have both 'average' and larger cuffs on each machine so there is no going hunting for either - they do have to go find the smaller cuff when needed though.
As smart as I think I am, I continue to learn. How is it that it took 71 years for me to learn that there are more than one size cuff? I wondered that if I did know this information until yesterday, how many others do not know this information.
Thanks for letting us know that there are many more sizes to accommodate many different sized arms.
Lots of Hugs,
Janelle0 -
Thigh cuff tooRague said:Several sizes
Point is - use the right sized cuff at all times. An 'out of your norm' (be it higher or lower than you usually show) by a machine should be rechecked manually.
I thought everyone knew that the correct cuff had to be used to get accurate readings. Actually, there are more than 2 different cuff sizes - smaller arms have to have smaller cuffs also. All the facilities I go to have both 'average' and larger cuffs on each machine so there is no going hunting for either - they do have to go find the smaller cuff when needed though.
My husband was a body builder and frequently required the use of the thigh cuff.
I located this article and if you can get pass the bit that it's written as pregnancy primer for plus sized mommies-to-be, there's some comprehensive information about 'how to', bulb size, sizing charts about arm diameter/cuff, and even a section on how to deal with obstinate medical personnel. Not that any of us would know what that's like.
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/lgbpcuffs.htm#Why a Large Blood Pressure Cuff Is Needed
As someone who has had the pleasure of watching multiple nurses back away from a sphygmomanometer and begin talking in soft hushed tones, the information is power. It was just nice to give a little elevated BP back to the girls in the pastel uniforms. Not mean, just naughty.
Thanks for this discussion, Janelle.0 -
I always get BP taken on my
I always get BP taken on my leg, and never get a reliable reading. I have started taking my BP at home daily and I use that info to monitor my BP. I also downloaded an app "Heart Pal" for tracking the BP. It graphs and charts the readings so I can get an average over time.
If you take BP at home, I understand that first thing in the am is not the best time. You should get up and move around for a while first. Try and be consistent in the conditions and time of day when you are taking your BP as well.
Best wishes to all of us managing the BP. Thanks for starting this good discussion Janelle.
Hugs,
Linda0 -
Janelle,
I always ask for
Janelle,
I always ask for the big girl cuff. I had the same experience years ago. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was so high. When I saw the doctor she was concerned and took a second reading but she asked the nurse to bring the big girl cuff and viola normal blood pressure. She asked the nurse what cuff she used and she hemmed and hawed and the doctor told her that using the right cuff is elementary and she didn't want it happening again. When the nurse stepped out the doctor told me the same thing you advised "always ask for the larger cuff". I think some nurses don't want to offend a patient but heck I know I am a big girl so use the right cuff. Good advice Janelle.
Stef0 -
Alsofauxma said:Janelle,
I always ask for
Janelle,
I always ask for the big girl cuff. I had the same experience years ago. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was so high. When I saw the doctor she was concerned and took a second reading but she asked the nurse to bring the big girl cuff and viola normal blood pressure. She asked the nurse what cuff she used and she hemmed and hawed and the doctor told her that using the right cuff is elementary and she didn't want it happening again. When the nurse stepped out the doctor told me the same thing you advised "always ask for the larger cuff". I think some nurses don't want to offend a patient but heck I know I am a big girl so use the right cuff. Good advice Janelle.
Stef
if your BP is out of wack with the proper cuff and it is with a machine, ask for it to be taken manually. The machine is not as accurate as a human.
Maureen RN0 -
I've never known this.Gabe N Abby Mom said:I always get BP taken on my
I always get BP taken on my leg, and never get a reliable reading. I have started taking my BP at home daily and I use that info to monitor my BP. I also downloaded an app "Heart Pal" for tracking the BP. It graphs and charts the readings so I can get an average over time.
If you take BP at home, I understand that first thing in the am is not the best time. You should get up and move around for a while first. Try and be consistent in the conditions and time of day when you are taking your BP as well.
Best wishes to all of us managing the BP. Thanks for starting this good discussion Janelle.
Hugs,
Linda
I've never known this. Thanks for sharing this info! There is always just one cuff in my doctor's office that I know of.0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.9K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 397 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 671 Leukemia
- 793 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 237 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 61 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 540 Sarcoma
- 731 Skin Cancer
- 653 Stomach Cancer
- 191 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards