Taking Blood Pressure

Welcome to our blood pressure training guide. In this section we provide a review of how to take blood pressure; assessment guides for adults and children; practice drills for the assessment of hypertension in children; and a series of case studies on hypertension and hypotension blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Simulator

Our blood pressure simulator allows you to practice reading arterial blood pressure. In the lessons listed below, you will be able to:
1) Inflate the cuff by pressing the 'Inflate Cuff' button several times
2) Deflate the cuff by selecting one of the 'Open Valve' settings
3) Close the valve
4) Read the blood pressure values while listening for Korotoff Sounds
5) Switch between dial and mercury sphygmomanometers

Blood Pressure Assessment Guides

Use these links for more information concerning blood pressure measurement and hypertension catagories.
Measuring Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure - Hypertension Guides

Blood Pressure Lessons and Case Studies

Our case studies provide training for assessing blood pressure using our simulator. Please use the table of contents below to select a course or lesson.

Cases Related To Blood Pressure
This course will teach you how to obtain blood pressure readings, heart and lung sounds, patient history and test results in order to establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan. The cases presented involve hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure), elevation of only systolic or diastolic pressures. Clinical conditions which are associated with hypertensive and hypotensive conditions are included among the cases.

Lesson List

1	Introduction
2	40 year old man with headaches and shortness of breath
3	45 year old woman with headache and facial swelling
4	A 50 year old man with weight loss, fatigue, weakness...
5	A 65 year old woman with a two hour history of chest pain and dizziness.
6	A 54 year old man is brought to the emergency room from his doctor's office.
7	A 45 year old man complains of shortness of breath with exertion.
8	Ten year old girl brought to office by mother.
9	A 60 year old woman enters emergency room after a recent fainting episode.
10	A 45 year old woman complains of a two month history of fast heart rate and palpitations.
11	A 75 year old woman complains of lethargy ...
12	Fifty year old male in emergency room complains of dizziness and headache of two hour duration.
13	Male patient 30 years of age is seen in emergency room for frontal headache, sweating and palpitations.
14	47 year old male with severe left calf pain
15	A 50 year old woman with infected cut on hand
16	A 75 year old man brought to emergency room after fainting
17	78 year old male with shortness of breath with exertion and general fatigue.
18	65 year old woman referred by internist for blood pressure elevation.
19	A 50 year old woman has a fainting episode standing in her home.
20	A 50 year old woman complains of headaches, dizzyness and blurred vision.
21	A 75 year old man with shortness of breath and chest pain on exertion

High Blood Pressure in Children Drill
These drills build assessment skills by simulating blood pressure measurement by auscultation. Users will also practice evaluation of hypertension using the NIH's classification tables for children. We recommend downloading the 'Pocket Guide to Blood Pressure Measurement in Children', National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, using the following link: A Pocket Guide to Blood Pressure Measurement in Children

Lesson List

1	5 year old male
2	8 year old female
3	12 year old male
4	15 year old female
5	14 year old male
6	7 year old female

This web site is intended for medical professionals. If you require medical help, please contact your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.