Adult screening tests

Adult screening tests

Blood pressure for hypertension

• sphygmomanometer
• metal dish of stethoscope on bracial pulse point
• cuff around upper arm 
• gradually inflate cuff until no pulse can be heard
• pressure in cuff is greater than in artery - blood flow to hand has stopped
• deflate cuff slightly until pulse can be heard
• on the first pulse, record systolic pressure
• pressure as heart contracts
• pressure in artery is equal to pressure in cuff 
• continue to deflate cuff until no pulse can be heard
• on last pulse, record diastolic pressure
• pressure between contractions
• pressure in artery is greater than in cuff
• recorded in mmHg (mm of mercury)
• written as systolic over diastolic
• clinical hypertension is high BP recorded at least 3 times
• example of hypertension is 130/80mmHg

Smear test

• test for cervical cancer
• patient lays on examination table, puts feet together and opens/drops knees
• a speculum is inserted into the vagina and up into the cervix to hold it open 
• a special shaped spatula is used to scrape off some cells from the cervix
• the cells…