IntroductionManual blood pressure techniques are associated with many factors that can affect the measurement (Myers, 2010). Patient anxiety and poor blood pressure measurement technique by the healthcare professional can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate drug treatment (Myers, 2010). The mercury sphygmomanometer has been the “gold standard” for measuring blood pressure since its invention in 1881 (Ostchega et al., 2011). However, mercury is now considered an environmental hazard and many hospitals and clinical practices around the world have banned its use (Myers, 2010). There are now many mercury-free alternatives to the sphygmomanometer, such as the aneroid sphygmomanometer, digital monitors like the x, or ambulatory blood pressure monitors that can measure an individual's blood pressure over a 24-hour period. However, many important factors affect blood pressure. measures such as; the natural variability of blood pressure, the white coat effect, the limitations and precision of the device used, the difficulty of measuring blood pressure in certain groups such as the elderly. White coat phenomenon. It is well known that anxiety can increase blood pressure when patients are frightened or anxious (Beevers et al, 2007). This is often called the white coat effect and can sometimes increase blood pressure by up to 30 mmHg, causing a misdiagnosis of hypertension (Beevers et al, 2007). However, once one becomes familiar with the healthcare professional who takes the blood pressure measurement, hypertension decreases. White coat hypertension also occurs in medical settings, but tends to persist with repeated visits (Beevers et al, 2007). Home blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring are...... middle of paper ....... Write a brief rationale for your choice, based on your review of the literature. There isn't necessarily one ideal method, so your arguments for or against certain equipment will have a greater influence on your grades than your actual choice of method. (1,000 words maximum).Study Overview: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the impact of a nutritional intervention on blood pressure in adults with mild hypertension. The intervention will last 12 weeks and blood pressure will be measured at baseline and at the end of the 12 week period. Participants (n=30) will be otherwise healthy adults living near the Massey University Nutrition Research Laboratory. Choice of method: mercury blood pressure monitor Part Three (25%) Produce a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the chosen blood pressure measurement method to be used in the study