A cuff of appropriate breadth is fitted and inflated manually by repeatedly squeezing a rubber bulb until the artery is completely occluded. Listening with the stethoscope to the brachial artery at the elbow, the examiner slowly releases the pressure in the cuff. When blood just starts to flow in the artery, the turbulent flow creates a "whooshing" or pounding (first Korotkoff sound). The pressure at which this sound is first heard is the systolic blood pressure. The cuff pressure is further released until no sound can be heard (fifth Korotkoff sound), at the diastolic arterial pressure. Sometimes, the pressure is palpated (felt by hand) to get an assessment before auscultation.
The risk of cardiovascular disease increases progressively throughout the gamut of avant-garde arterial pressure that begins at 115/75 mmHg. In the past, hypertension was only diagnosed if secondary hieroglyphs of high arterial pressure were present, along with Lower Blood Pressure a prolonged aerial systolic pressure reading over many visits. In the US, this reactive stance also-ran been soundly rejected in light of recent evidence. However in the UK, patientsâ readings are still express normal up to 140/90 mmHg.