

The pormanteau of a nameĬame about because the device originally measured blood pressure by tracking how much the pressureĬaused mercury to rise in a column (more on mercury sphygmomanometers later).īoth manual and digital sphygmomanometers are available, with each type offering different benefits A manometer is a device that measures pressure by lookingĪt how much the pressure causes a column of fluid to rise against a scale. The name sphygmomanometer comes from the Greek prefix sphygmos, meaning “pulse,”Īttached to the scientific term manometer. Sphygmomanometer is an important clinical skill for any medical professional. Needless to say, being able to properly measure blood pressure with a Signs or symptoms of the damage it causes, which is why it’s important to directly measure

High blood pressure is sometimes called the “silent killer” because there are no warning High blood pressure can contribute to damaged and narrow arteries,Īneurysms, coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, kidney failure and scarring, stroke, heart High blood pressure, which is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease-related deaths, Known as hypertension, is an incredibly common health problem: More than 100 million Americans have Then release the artery beneath it as the practitioner measures at what pressure the blood begins toįlow and at what pressure the blood flows unimpeded.īlood pressure refers to the amount of force applied to the artery walls. Manually operated rubber bulb or an electrically operated pump.

A sphygmomanometerĬonsists of an inflatable cuff, a measuring unit and a device to inflate the cuff, usually a Including blood pressure meter, blood pressure monitor, and blood pressure gauge. A sphygmomanometer is a device for measuring blood pressure, and it goes by several different names,
