Blood Pressure Question

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So I have perhaps a silly question. When taking a manual blood pressure I will sometimes hear a "whoosh" or "blowing" beats before a traditional "beat" if that makes sense. I have tried to find an answer but haven't been able to find one. Is my systolic pressure the whoosh/blow or the traditional beat? I have noticed that this usually happens with patients who have compromised hearts like HTN or CHF. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

There are 5 sounds that are audible when taking BP. I read about it in fundamentals. Instructor said we probably wouldn't hear them. But I can hear all 5 very distinctly when I do my hubs BP

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

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I just worry because I have had pressures for patients be in the 180's then the nurse turns around and says it's 160's. That's why I ask. I wasn't sure if this was so to my patient population or possibly the actual cuff itself.

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

Listen for the clicks. Disregard extraneous sounds like whooshes. And there might be a point or two difference between people, but not a lot.

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