What happens when an engineer is allowed to wait for the doctor to come in? He checks things like..the sink that has a drip. Probably needs a new gasket, no biggie. The sphygmomanometer, mounted on the wall has a slight tilt but not enough to cause an noticeable error. But at rest, it is already 4 mm HG. I wanted to zero it out but, figured I better keep my hands to myself. So I ask the doctor, "If at rest it is reading +4 mm HG, does that error then translate throughout all readings? Will the blood pressure readings be 4 mm HG too high? She did not know. In fact looked a bit shocked! So...anyone here know? :-)
Well your question sent me on a search because I, too, had never thought about this. On my brief readings, it looks like your doc's sphygmo needs recalibration as it is only considered 'in good standing' 3 mmHg either side of zero (but this already gives it a total 'standard wiggle room' of 6 mmHg around the absolute zero starting point). Looks like at 4 mmHg, the readings begin to be a bit unreliable, but I don't know if it is a true 4 mmHg (as you would have in a spring-loaded scale) or if the reading would be 'close enough for Government work' since manual BP can be affected by technique as well as cuff size, wear, etc. Thanks for the diversion tonight!
I hope you don't think I'm laughing at you, Richard, but I found this post funny! Thanks for the entertainment value it afforded me!! However, I'm guessing you have enough of a sense of humor, that you understand what I'm trying to say! You're way too intelligent for the average Dr! Scary!! Are you almost finished with Module 4?
Rachael, the sphygmomanometer was the "old-fashioned" mercury in a tube. For that reason, when at "rest" the top of the mercury should represent zero (since "at rest") and to raise it, say 140 mm HG, it would have to raise 140 "ticks" on the tube. 140 mm HG of BP would be needed to raise mercury 140 mm. So if it starts at +4 mm and add 140 mm = 144 for the BP "reading", yet the patient only had 140 mm. For me, I was thinking "Hey, I am doing better than last time because, if I subtract 4 mm from this current "reading".... :-)
Sara !!! After decades of engineering, and a spouse who screams in terror one day because I sorted the silverware in the drawer (she yelled "An engineer has been in my silverware drawer!!!"), I only laugh along with everyone else." I made a passive solar heated "outdoor cat" house and during these past 0 degree days, I suspect it's close to 40 in there, and the oldest neighborhood cat was basking in the sun in there yesterday for like, 6 hours? No insecurity about humor because I see it, and, I know I have fun with many of these "projects". You would not believe the next one ;-)
I'm in Section 15 now and I THINK Debby has some hair left. I do hope I have not driven her to pull too much out :-(
Great progress and inspiration to those of us behind you! Keep it up! I'm in section 8 now, but getting anxious to finish up this module and get my CCS and get working!! One section at a time...we can do this!
I got a kick out of this thread. :)