We shall begin the examination of our patient by taking the blood pressure. I’m placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the brachial artery. I shall now inflate the cuff to exceed the patient’s systolic and then, slowly deflate the cuff to obtain the blood pressure. Let’s all observe together.   [Korotkoff sounds]

Our patient’s blood pressure is 130/85, that is, it is normal. And what does that tell us? Well, it really does tell us something, because in the context of the differential diagnosis of chest pain, some of the causes of chest pain can result in a significant reduction in cardiac output, or obstruction to blood flow, resulting in a diminished blood pressure – such as a patient with a very large myocardial infarction, a patient with a large pulmonary embolism, a patient with dissection. But, in our case, we have a normal blood pressure.