noun, Physiology. 1. an instrument, often attached to an inflatable air-bladder cuff and used with a stethoscope, for measuring blood pressure in an artery. He who worships his sphygmomanometer as a thing apart and infallible will sooner or later come to grief.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the tissue layers surrounding the heart. The chest pain of pericarditis is usually sharp and stabbing. It can radiate to the back, neck, or arm. The pain may worsen when taking a deep breath or lying flat and lessen when leaning forward.
Most of us have experienced chest pain at one time or another. For many people, chest pain is a source of fear and anxiety because it is often associated with heart disease. Fortunately, most chest pain has nothing to do with the heart. However, chest pain is not something you should ignore. Itâs very important for you to understand the differences between the types of chest pain that physicians consider to be heart-related and significant, and the types of chest pain that are not.