Lumiscope 1134 - Manual (Page 4)

4 5 How the 1134 Works About Blood Pressure
Your model 1134 uses the oscillometric method to detect
your blood pressure. Before the cuff starts inflating,
the device will establish a baseline cuff pressure, which
is equivalent to the air pressure. The measurement of
your blood pressure is based on this baseline pressure.
After the cuff inflates to block your blood in the artery,
the deflation process starts. During the deflation of the
cuff, the monitor is detecting the pressure oscillations
generated by the beat-to-beat pulsatile. Any muscle
movement during this period of time will cause
measurement error. After detecting the amplitude and
the slope of the pressure oscillations during the deflation
process, your 1134 will determine the systolic and
diastolic pressures for you; and your pulse rate is detected
at the same time.
What is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the artery
tube while blood flows through the arteries. The pressure
measured when the heart contracts and sends blood
out of the heart is systolic (highest) blood pressure. The
pressure measured when the heart dilates with blood
flowing back into the heart is called diastolic (lowest)
blood pressure.
Why Measure Your Blood Pressure?
Among the various health problems afflicting people today,
problems associated with high blood pressure are by far
the most common. High blood pressure's dangerously
strong correlation with cardiovascular disease has made
measuring blood pressure a necessity for identifying those
at risk.