Inflating one's own cuff does not increase self-recorded blood pressure

Abstract

To determine whether the muscular activity required to inflate a blood pressure cuff for self-recording influences the blood pressure at the instant of the subsequent measurement, finger blood pressure was recorded continuously during cuff inflation. Ten normotensive and seven untreated hypertensive subjects used their dominant hands to inflate, in 5 s, an occluding cuff on the same arm up to 200 mmHg. Blood pressure in the middle finger of the other arm was measured continuously by the Finapres device. Korotkoff sounds were determined by a microphone in the arm cuff, and the speed of deflation was kept constant by the investigator at 2-3 mmHg/s. Systolic pressure rose at the onset of inflation, with an average peak of 13 +/- 6 (s.d.) and 12 +/- 8 mmHg above baseline in the normotensive and hypertensive subjects, respectively. Five seconds after the onset of deflation both systolic and diastolic pressures in both groups had returned to baseline levels. Thus, self-inflation of a blood pressure cuff allows a valid measurement of blood pressure provided the recommended guidelines are strictly followed.