Table 4.

Blood pressure measurement using auscultation method

Standard Procedures of Blood Pressure Measurement

After resting for 5 or more minutes in a quiet, appropriate environment

Avoiding smoking, alcohol, or caffeine before measurement

Measuring 2 or more times at 1- to 2-min intervals in one visit

A cuff with a bladder at least 40% of arm circumference wide; 80% to 10% of arm circumference long (a standard bladder for adults: 13 cm wide; 22 to 24 cm long)

Maintaining the upper arm cuff at the heart level

Inflating the cuff rapidly and deflating slowly at a speed of 2 mm Hg per heart beat

Identifying the blood pressure as the systolic blood pressure at the first Korotkoff sound; the blood pressure as the diastolic blood pressure at the fifth Korotkoff sound

Regarding the blood pressure as the diastolic blood pressure at the fourth Korotkoff sound in pregnancy, arteriovenous shunt, and chronic aortic insufficiency

Taking blood pressure in both arms on the initial visit; subsequently using the arm of higher pressure for measuring blood pressure

Taking blood pressure in legs to exclude peripheral arterial disease, when pulses in the lower extremities are weak

Repeating the measurement three or more times to estimate the average systolic and diastolic pressure in case of arrhythmia

Measuring BP after 1- and 3-min standing in elderly persons and persons with diabetes and suspected orthostatic hypotension