Which of the following does an indirect blood pressure monitor measure?

An indirect blood pressure monitor measures both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, providing a complete picture of the patient's cardiovascular status. This monitoring involves using a cuff to occlude the artery and then gradually releasing the pressure. As the cuff deflates, sound waves or vibrations (Korotkoff sounds) are detected, which correspond to the systolic pressure (the maximum pressure during heartbeats) and the diastolic pressure (the minimum pressure when the heart rests).

Understanding that both diastolic and systolic measurements are critical for diagnosing conditions such as hypertension is important. Without measuring both values, one would only have partial information, potentially leading to an incomplete assessment of a patient’s cardiovascular health.

While options such as solely measuring systolic pressure, pulse rate, or mean arterial pressure would not provide the complete data needed for proper evaluation and treatment planning, the capability to measure both systolic and diastolic pressures allows for a comprehensive assessment.