Blood Pressure Chart- Why cuff size matters

http://www.aboutbloodpressure.ca/blood-pressure-chart-why-cuff-size-matters/

blood pressure chart

Why is it so important that I use the right size of cuff?

If the cuff is wrong size, it could give a reading that is too high or too low.

To avoid this, the air bladder inside the cuff should fit around at least 80% of the arm but not more than 100%.

If the cuff is not big enough, and less than 80% of the arm is covered by the air bladder, then the cuff may not be able to completely close off the blood vessels. In this case, the bladder will inflate too much and the monitor will give a higher reading than it should.

If the cuff is is too large, and the air bladder in the cuff overlaps (covers more than 100% of the arm), then the cuff will inflate on itself. This means that it will cut off the blood supply too easily and the monitor will give a lower reading than it should.

Read More: http://www.aboutbloodpressure.ca/blood-pressure-chart-why-cuff-size-matters/