Pulse pressure

rhan101277

rhan101277

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Since this is palpated when taking vitals as a "pulse". I just wondered if they systolic and diastolic were close to each other if it was possible not to feel one. At least maybe the radial artery or ulnar one. A normal bp of 120/80 yeilds 40 pulse pressure, but if thats the case then 80/40 should fell the same. Anyone else got any feedback on this.
 
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I'm not sure what you mean. Are you talking about doing BP by palpation? That only allows you to measure the systolic BP.
 
Usually, the resting pulse pressure in healthy adults, sitting position, is about 40 mmHg. The pulse pressure increases with exercise due to increased stroke volume, healthy values being up to pulse pressures of about 100 mmHg, simultaneously as total peripheral resistance drops during exercise. In healthy individuals the pulse pressure will typically return to normal within about 10 minutes.

Pulse pressure is what you feel when you actually are feeling someone's pulse.
 
rhan101277 said:
Pulse pressure is what you feel when you actually are feeling someone's pulse.
Click to expand...

That would suggest that someone with a pulse of 180 has a pulse pressure of 180. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you are trying to say.
 
When you're feeling someone's pulse, that's palpation. You'll be able to feel the pulse return to the artery at the PT's systolic pressure. The diastolic pressure cannot be palpated (felt).

The pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and diastolic. You're right in saying it's usually around 40mmHg, but this is not a pressure which you can palpate; it's the differential between the systolic and diastolic values.

Hope this helps clear this up for you.


Later!

--Coop
 
I think I know what you're talking about.

Pulse pressure = (systolic-diastolic).

When we palpate a pulse, we're feeling that change in pressure that occurs when the heart contracts. If the pulse pressure is stronger, then we feel a stronger pulse and when the pulse pressure is lower, we feel a weaker pulse. The terms that we use to document these would be "bounding," "normal," and "weak."


Now the walls of arteries, depending on where they are located, have a mixture of elastic material and smooth muscles, so when the heart contracts a pressure pluse passes through the arteries and is damped as it moves along.


Now think of a garden hose. If you change the pressure quickly from low to really high, you feel a pulse. If you change it from really low to just low, you might feel the change in the tubing, but may not. On the other hand, if you change it from high to max you will fell the difference, even if it's not as large of a change from very low to low. That's because at higher pressures the artery is stretched more which lowers the ability of the walls to absorb energy from the pulse.
 
The main thing I am wondering is if the pulse you feel could possibly feel the same with a person with low BP.

Here are some examples

You just go through running 170/90 = 80mmHg should feel bounding

Normal BP 120/80 = 40mmHg

Low BP 80/40 = 40mmHg

Since the last two pulse pressures are the same wouldn't you expect to be able to palpate it and it feel the same. I know there are alot of factors like elasticity and such etc. But just in general.

Also what if systolic and diastolic are close?

100/90 = 10mmHg it maybe be tough to get a pulse.

thoughts?
 
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