For a patient with a blood pressure of 168/90 mmHg and a radial pulse of 82 bpm, what is the pulse pressure?

For a patient with a blood pressure of 168/90 mmHg and a radial pulse of 82 bpm, what is the pulse pressure?

• A. 162
• B. 78
• C. 90
• D. 260

Answer: (B)

Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Subtract 90 from 168 to get 78 mmHg. The radial pulse rate doesn’t determine pulse pressure; it reflects heart rate. The other numbers don’t match the calculation: 162 would be from an incorrect subtraction, 90 is the diastolic value, and 260 would be the sum, not the difference. The correct pulse pressure is 78 mmHg.

Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Subtract 90 from 168 to get 78 mmHg. The radial pulse rate doesn’t determine pulse pressure; it reflects heart rate. The other numbers don’t match the calculation: 162 would be from an incorrect subtraction, 90 is the diastolic value, and 260 would be the sum, not the difference. The correct pulse pressure is 78 mmHg.