What occurs when a BP cuff that is too small is used?

Using a blood pressure cuff that is too small for the patient’s arm size leads to a falsely high blood pressure reading. This occurs because the smaller cuff exerts more pressure on a smaller area of tissue, which can compress the underlying arteries more than a properly fitted cuff. As a result, the readings taken can indicate a higher pressure than what is actually present in the arteries. Accurate blood pressure monitoring is crucial, especially in clinical settings like dialysis, as it helps in assessing cardiovascular health and making appropriate treatment decisions. Proper cuff size is vital to ensuring reliable and valid blood pressure measurements.