If a patient's blood pressure is 140/70 mm Hg, what is the mean arterial pressure?

To calculate the mean arterial pressure (MAP), you can use the formula:

MAP = DBP + (1/3) * (SBP - DBP)

In this case, the patient's blood pressure is 140/70 mm Hg, where the systolic blood pressure (SBP) is 140 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is 70 mm Hg.

Let's break down the calculation:

1. Subtract the diastolic pressure from the systolic pressure:

140 mm Hg - 70 mm Hg = 70 mm Hg

2. Take one-third of that difference:

(1/3) * 70 mm Hg = 23.33 mm Hg

3. Add this value to the diastolic blood pressure to find the mean arterial pressure:

70 mm Hg + 23.33 mm Hg = 93.33 mm Hg

When rounding, this value is commonly approximated to 93 mm Hg, making it the closest choice to our calculation. Hence, the mean arterial pressure for this patient is 93 mm Hg.

This is the valid reason that supports the choice of 93 mmHg as the correct answer in the context of clinical assessment