Checking blood pressure is important because high blood pressure is strongly linked to the risk of heart disease. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This should be done at the start of every test session using a blood pressure cuff containing an inflatable balloon connected to a pressure gauge, which is placed on the athlete's right upper arm. The athlete should lie or sit down and rest their arm on, for example, an armrest so that the elbow is in line with the heart. The balloon is inflated and the athlete feels a rising pressure (max 180 mm/Hg) on their upper arm. The person performing the test listens with a stethoscope in the crook of the arm while the air is slowly released again.
The pressure, which builds up in an artery just as the heart contracts and pushes blood into the veins, is measured the first time a pulse is heard. The sound gradually becomes weaker and eventually disappears completely. The negative pressure, the lowest pressure exerted by the blood on the artery as it flows freely through an artery, is measured when the pulse sound is no longer heard.
Normal blood pressure for both women and men is 120/80, i.e. 120 systolic pressure and 80 diastolic pressure. A resting blood pressure higher than 140/90 is generally considered elevated. It is important to be aware that blood pressure often rises slightly in a test environment. Therefore, try to make the athlete feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible with the situation. If you suspect that the test result is misleading, let the athlete rest for a few minutes and then repeat the test. If several measurements show that the blood pressure is too high, medical treatment should be applied.