THE BP CUFF: There’s a moral of a story here…..
Well try this on for size – how about getting your arm wedged in the drug store’s blood pressure apparatus. Yep, you heard right.
I went to my drugstore to have a prescription filled. Whilst waiting I became bored looking at the vitamin section and spotted a portable blood pressure machine. Glancing at the instructions, I thought this was a fine idea and could compare these numbers with my doctor’s machine.
Having arms that are chubby to say the least, I stuffed my arm into the circular cuff. Instantly, after pressing the green button the cuff inflated at a rapid pace. The cuff was becoming tighter and tighter, and my arm was becoming redder and redder. I yelled for the pharmacy assistant, but incapable to offering help, paged the store manager. “Would Bob please come to the pharmacy immediately”. Bob arrived promptly, and even he was powerless to remove my now crimson arm. I felt so trapped – I was so trapped. He raced to fetch some tools, returned to unscrew the cuff – and phew! finally I had my arm back.
Throughout these moments, a small crowd gathered, whispering at what was a comical situation. I was so humiliated, and not at all flabbergasted if my BP was 250/150! I’ll only permit my doctor to take it after this lesson.
Moral of the story: if you have a fat arm don’t stick it in uncertain waters!
Article Comments