Heart, Pulse & Blood

A normal heart sounds where according to theory, S1 is heard louder at mitral valve and tricuspid valve while S2 is heard louder at aortic valve and pulmonary valve. A loud S1 denotes that subject has a healthy and strong left ventricle whereas S2 is heard louder at aortic valve and pulmonary valve because there is pressure that is closing the valve. Furthermore, split heart sounds also can be heard upon auscultation of S2 indicating that one ventricle is closing later than the other. Other than that, there is no murmur present in subject’s heart sound either during deep inspiration or after undergone light exercises.


For the test done on arterial pulses, subject’s pulse rate range from 70 to 92 beats per minute (bpm). In sitting position, subject’s pulse rate taken at radial pulse was 70 bpm and increasing when taken at both carotid pulse and brachial pulse. While in upright posture, subject’s pulse rate was constant at 78 bpm when taken at radial pulse and carotid pulse. There was a slightly different value of pulse rate due to the subject’s position at which the pulse is being counted. This position may affect subject’s pulse rate.




Next is measuring subject’s blood pressure by palpation and auscultation method. Palpation method can only determine subject’s systolic blood pressure (SBP), a pressure at which the radial pulse becomes palpable once again. Auscultation method can determine both SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). DBP is the point where the sounds that are heard as the cuff pressure is being reduced eventually become silence.


There’s a very big difference value of subject’s SBP obtained in both method that it may cause an error in taking the reading of SBP. Palpation method is a little hard as it is difficult to detect when subject’s pulse is palpable once again. While auscultation method reading may be accurate with the aid of stethoscope placed over subject’s brachial artery resulting in 80/50 mmHg. From the reading, subject is considered to be in the state of having hypotension or lower blood pressure because normal blood pressure is said to be around 120/80 mmHg. Dehydration may have caused subject to be having low blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

1.      The techniques used in the assessment of the cardiovascular system are :

(i)       By using stethoscope where high-pitched sounds are best heard using the diaphragm while low pitched sound are best heard using the bell.

(ii)      By palpating the arteries that can be used for feeling such as the radial, brachial and carotid arteries.

(iii)     By measuring blood pressure using palpation and auscultation method.  

2.      The areas where the heart sounds are best heard are at aortic, pulmonary, mitral and tricuspid valves.