A sphygmomanometer applies pressure which stops arterial blood flow. When pressure is reduced, flow resumes when the heart pumps, the systolic pressure. When pressure is reduced enough, the artery stays open all the time, the diastolic pressure.
This measures how hard the heart has to work and indicates, among other things, how the vascular system is functioning.
A sphygmomanometer applies pressure which stops arterial blood flow. When pressure is reduced, flow resumes when the heart pumps, the systolic pressure. When pressure is reduced enough, the artery stays open all the time, the diastolic pressure.
This measures how hard the heart has to work and indicates, among other things, how the vascular system is functioning.