1. What Every Tech Should Know About Blood Pressure?
Lynn Lawrence, CPOT, ABOC

2. What is Blood Pressure? It can be a vascular disease
The pressure that blood inside the vessels are exerting on the walls of the vessels
Can be constant or intermittent

3. Blood Pressures
Systolic – Pressure exerted on your vessels when the heart contracts and is pumping blood
Diastolic - Pressure exerted on your vessels when the heart is at rest
These can change throughout the day and activities have an impact too

4. Anatomy of the Heart Right Atria Left Atria Right Left Ventricle
Blood is pumped from the Right Atria to the Right Ventricle, through the pulmonary vein to the lungs. It then returns to the heart through the Left Atria to the Left Ventricle and is then pumped to the rest body through the Aorta.
Right
Ventricle
Left
Ventricle

5. Circulatory Anatomy
Valve
Vein
Artery
Arterioles
Capillary bed
Venules

6. Healthy Life Styles Changes
Reducing body weight
Restricting dietary salt
Decreasing fat
Not smoking
Avoiding excess alcohol
Exercising regularly
Developing relaxing techniques
Taking medication as prescribe

7. What is Hypertension? It is the same as high blood pressure
When your blood pressure is high, your heart must work harder to pump the same amount of blood through your arteries
This can damage your heart, kidneys, vessels and eyes
Major cause of cerebrovascular accident (stroke), cardiac disease, and renal failure

8. 2 Types Primary is the most common type and it’s cause are unknown.
Secondary may be the result of renal vascular disease, renal parenchymal disease, Cushing’s syndrome, DM, dysfunction of the thyroid or adrenal gland, pregnancy, and some neurologic disorders

9. Symptoms of Hypertension
Head aches
Blurred vision
Chest pain
Frequent night urination
Nose bleeds
Dizziness/fatigue
Stroke…sudden death of tissue
Heart attack
Hypertensive retinopathy, hemorrhage, exudates, papilledema, subconjunctival hemorrhages

10. Question
Why is high blood pressure dangerous to a diabetic patient?

11. Question Why is high blood pressure dangerous to a diabetic patient?
a. Diabetes is a vascular disease and high pressure through weaken vessels is a bad combination

12. The kidneys play what role in blood pressure?
Question
The kidneys play what role in blood pressure?

13. Question The kidneys play what role in blood pressure
A. Aids in maintaining pressure and volume by vasoconstriction, regulation of sodium, and fluid levels

14. Why is it important to ask about BP during a screening?
Question
Why is it important to ask about BP during a screening?
How about the family Hx?

15. Should I take blood pressure before or after I dilate my patient. Why?
Question
Should I take blood pressure before or after I dilate my patient. Why?

16. Taking a blood pressure
Tools of the trade

18. Taking a Blood Pressure
Have the patient relax 20 minutes
Arm should be at heart level
Place the Blood Pressure Cuff on the arm
Above the elbow over the Brachial Artery

19. Taking a Blood Pressure
Select the correct cuff size
Have the patient relax their arm.
Find the Radial pulse.

20. Taking a Blood Pressure
Inflate the blood pressure cuff until you can no longer feel a pulse.
Then inflate 30mmHg more.
At least 200mmHg

21. Taking a Blood Pressure
Place your stethoscope over the brachial artery.
Begin deflating the cuff slowly until you hear the pulse return.
This is your Systolic Pressure.

22. Taking a Blood Pressure
Listen until you no longer hear a pulse.
This is the Diastolic Pressure.

23. Abnormal Blood Pressures
Systolic greater than 140*
Diastolic greater than 90*
Difference less than 30 between the Systolic and Diastolic Pressures.*
140/90
210/120 severe hypertension
These are general guidelines and may differ from the guidelines that the provider you are employed by uses.

24. Documenting a Blood Pressure
Blood Pressures are Documented as
Systolic / Diastolic
120 80

25. Taking a Pulse
Using your index and middle fingers, apply gentle pressure at the Radial Artery.
Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.

26. New Glaucoma Findings

27. Hemorrhages Contrast
Striated hemorrhages in the fundus

28. Contrast

29. Questions???