How to Take Blood Pressure Without Cuff

Tap to Read ➤ Dr. Sumaiya Khan

One needs to know how to take blood pressure without cuff, in cases where there may not be a device which has a cuff, or when there is only a pressure probe. Read on to know the various procedures you can use for this purpose.

Blood pressure is defined as the pressure at which the blood is pumped out of the heart into the arterial vessels. Thus, it is the force exerted by the blood flow on the arterial walls. This is an important indicator of any disease or disorder that may be occurring in the body.

This simple parameter can be a vital indicator of diseases ranging from heart diseases to circulatory and blood disorders. Thus, it is important to know how to check blood pressure, whether at home or in the hospital.

However, when there is a dearth of a sphygmomanometer and other important equipment, then there may be need for a person to know how to take blood pressure without cuff.

On the other hand, thanks to technological advances, there are also some conditions where the device used to measure blood pressure can be done without the use of a cuff or the bulky combination of a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope.

Use of Pressure Probe

Although this barbaric method for checking blood pressure isn't used anymore, it's worth a mention! In the good old days, there was a method that in fact, till date, is the most reliable, yet the most aggressive method of taking blood pressure.

This method consisted of placing an arterial pressure probe directly into the artery and measuring the force that the blood is exerting on the artery wall. Although not practiced anymore, this technique is sometimes used in exceptional cases like in certain cardiological examinations, like a coronarography or a catheterization.

However, other exceptional cases where this method may also be employed include cases where the pressure is very high, but the patient does not exhibit any symptoms. This may be a case of calcified arteries, in which case, the pressure will not be recorded accurately with the help of a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope.

Another exceptional case is when the patient is in the intensive care unit and requires constant monitoring. In such cases, a pressure probe is introduced into the artery of the thigh, which constantly measures the pressure.

Finger Blood Pressure Monitor

A new invention that has come is the finger blood pressure monitor. The finger monitor is the latest technology that helps measure the blood pressure almost instantly in the most non-invasive way possible. This is a tiny digital device that works on batteries and consists of an electric monitor and a sensor.

There is a small finger compartment where the index finger of the person needs to be placed. Within a matter of seconds, the sensor reads the blood pressure in the finger and gives you the reading.

This device is small and portable and hence, is preferred for regular monitoring in individuals, especially when the person is constantly on the go.

Thus, these were the main ways of how to check blood pressure without using a cuff. Although, there are new technologies that are coming up every now and then, like there is a patented device that uses a patch sensor. In this device, an adhesive patch is placed on the patient's head, which then measures the vital signs of the patient.

However, the most common way of taking blood pressure correctly is with the help of a stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer. All said and done, what matters is finding out the correct measurements and getting as accurate readings as possible.

Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.