Blood Pressure

Purpose: The pressure that exerts on the walls of arteries. Diastolic pressure measures the pressure in the bloodstream when the heart (left ventricle) is relaxed and filling with blood. Systolic blood pressure measures the forces exerted after the heart contracts.

Equipment: Blood pressure cuff and stethoscope

Procedure: 

1. Have the participants sit down with arm supported and level to the heart. 
2. Strap the cuff about 1 inch above the elbow making sure the fit is snug. 
3. Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the brachial artery and put ear pieces in ears. 
4. Tighten the screw on the hand pump of the cuff and inflate until the last heard heartbeat, record this number as the Systolic measurement. 
5. Slowly loosen the screw to let out air in the cuff at about 5mm/dl/sec. Continue to listen to the heart beat until you can't hear anymore, record this number as the diastolic measurement.