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Is Blood Pressure Reading Of 170/120/80 Possible?

hello, I am an EMT-Basic Student. I was taking a Blood Pressure on elderly man, about 65 years old a bit overweight and his BP came out 170/120/80. Yes, distinctive sounds at 170mmg, fading until about 120mmg, then thump! again, then faded away at 80. Could you explain the physiology of this occurence?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Tue, 13 Jan 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 13 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hello,

A blood pressure of 170/120/80 is not possible. It is important that you get your blood pressure confirmed by a health professional. Korotkoff sounds are blood flow sounds that healthcare providers observe while taking blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer over the brachial artery in the antecubital fossa. These sounds appear and disappear as the blood pressure cuff is inflated and deflated. You might not have applied the proper techniques when hearing the sounds.

The Korotkoffs sounds are described as following:
Phase I Appearance of clear tapping sounds-Correlates with systolic blood pressure
Phase II Sounds become softer and longer-No clinical significance
Phase III Sounds become crisper and louder-No clinical significance
Phase IV Sounds become muffled and softer-Correlates as an alternate measure of diastolic blood pressure.
Phase V Sounds disappear completely-Correlates with diastolic blood pressure.


Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Vivek Chail
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Is Blood Pressure Reading Of 170/120/80 Possible?

Hello, A blood pressure of 170/120/80 is not possible. It is important that you get your blood pressure confirmed by a health professional. Korotkoff sounds are blood flow sounds that healthcare providers observe while taking blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer over the brachial artery in the antecubital fossa. These sounds appear and disappear as the blood pressure cuff is inflated and deflated. You might not have applied the proper techniques when hearing the sounds. The Korotkoffs sounds are described as following: Phase I Appearance of clear tapping sounds-Correlates with systolic blood pressure Phase II Sounds become softer and longer-No clinical significance Phase III Sounds become crisper and louder-No clinical significance Phase IV Sounds become muffled and softer-Correlates as an alternate measure of diastolic blood pressure. Phase V Sounds disappear completely-Correlates with diastolic blood pressure. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Vivek Chail