How do you assess a patient's blood pressure?

Assessing a patient's blood pressure accurately is crucial for understanding their cardiovascular health. The correct method involves using a sphygmomanometer, which is an instrument specifically designed to measure blood pressure. This device comprises an inflatable cuff that wraps around the patient's arm and is connected to a pressure gauge.

To measure blood pressure, you first place the cuff around the upper arm and inflate it to restrict blood flow. As the cuff deflates, you use a stethoscope placed over the brachial artery in the elbow region to listen for specific heart sounds known as Korotkoff sounds. The first sound you hear corresponds to the systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. The point at which the sound disappears indicates the diastolic blood pressure, the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. This method is the gold standard for blood pressure measurement in clinical settings because it provides accurate and reliable readings.

Other methods cited in the choices, such as using a thermometer, observing skin color and texture, or measuring pulse points, do not directly measure blood pressure. A thermometer assesses body temperature, skin observations can give hints about perfusion, and pulse points provide information about heart rate and circulation status but