Blood Pressure Cuff

  • When considering the correct size of cuff, two pertinent points should be recalled:
    1. The inflatable bladder in the cuff should be able to completely encircle the arm with minimal overlap.
    2. The width of the bladder in the cuff should be approximately 20% greater than the diameter of the extremity used for the blood pressure cuff.
  • Applying a cuff that is too small for an obese arm will produce a falsely elevated blood pressure reading; while applying too large a cuff on a thin arm will cause a falsely decreased blood pressure reading. Additionally, applying the cuff too loosely will produce a falsely elevated reading.