May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Heart Disease Purpose of Checking Blood Pressure in the Lower Limbs in a Heart Patient
Purpose of Checking Blood Pressure in the Lower Limbs in a Heart Patient |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: My Grandmother, 70yrs, has a past history of a CABG and a Stent placed. She is HTN and taking many medication to control her condition. However, she has been developing pain the left leg for 4-5 months now. She recently had a test done on her in which they measured Blood Pressure in all four limbs. Can you explain what is the purpose of this test ?? I was thinking they were trying to rule out Pheriperal Vascular Disease. If so, arent there other better more accurate tests to check that ? Dear Demetrius: Blood pressure measurement on each limb is absolutely necessary to gauge any blood pressure differences between the limbs. There is a difference of about 10 mmhg that normally exists between the upper and lower limbs. However, any difference in either leg or arm, as compared to its opposite leg or arm may indicate an underlying disease condition of the blood vessels supplying that limb, or a condition in the aorta, which is the main large artery in the body that supplies blood from the heart to other body parts. Conditions affecting these blood vessels may include peripheral vascular disease, aterosclerosis, aneurysm of the aorta, coarctation of the aorta etc. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 March 2011 ) |
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