BLOOD PRESSURE &
HEART RATE
NORTHWEST SPORTS MEDICINE
WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE?
■ Defined as the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels.
■ Two Measurements with Blood Pressure
– Systolic: The force exerted by the arterial walls during systole  the maximum
pressure during ventricle contraction
– Diastolic: The force exerted by the blood against the arterial walls during
diastole  the maximum pressure when the ventricles are relaxed.
■ Blood pressure is measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury)
■ Blood Pressure Readings
– Write them  SYSTOLIC # / DIASTOLIC #
BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE HEART
CATEGORIES OF BLOOD PRESSURE
DIAGRAM OF BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF
HOW TO ASSESS BLOOD PRESSURE
■ Tools Needed
– Stethoscope
– Sphygmomanometer (Blood Pressure Cuff)
■ Steps to Take Blood Pressure
1. Place blood pressure cuff on arm above the elbow near the brachial artery.
2. Place the stethoscope near the brachial artery (just below the bicep)
3. Pump the bulb up to 180-200 mmHG
4. SLOWLY release the air out of the BP cuff by turning the air release valve.
5. Listen for the “lub” sound while monitoring the meter. The number you see when
you hear the first sound is the SYSTOLIC number.
6. When the sounds disappears, the number you see when this happens is the
DIASTOLIC number.
BLOOD PRESSURE READING PRACTICE
■ SKIP TO 5:10
■ https://youtu.be/oioFVbsiwEk
HEART RATE
■ Definition: speed of the heartbeat measured
by the number of contractions of the heart per
minute. Measured in beats per minute (bpm).
CATEGORIES OF HEART RATE
■BRADYCARDIA: Slow Heart Rate
(<60 bpm)
■TACHYCARDIA: Fast Heart Rate
(>100 bpm)
HOW TO ASSESS HEART RATE
■ Can be taken on your
wrist (radial artery) and
neck (carotid artery)
1.
Place two fingers on
either area to assess
heart rate
2.
When you feel pulsing,
start counting for 30
seconds
3.
When 30 seconds is
over, multiply the
number of pulses by 2.
OTHER MODES TO ASSESS BLOOD
PRESSURE AND HEART RATE
■ Electronic Blood
Pressure Cuff
■ Pulse Oximeter
– Shows heart rate
reading as well as
your oxygen intake
level
QUESTIONS?