What effect might the use of a large cuff have during blood pressure readings?

Using a large cuff for blood pressure readings can lead to lower blood pressure readings than the actual blood pressure. This is particularly important because when the cuff is too large relative to the arm's circumference, it can cause the blood pressure measurement to be inaccurate. Specifically, the extra space in the cuff can lead to an insufficient pressure being applied to fully occlude the artery, resulting in readings that underestimate the systolic and diastolic pressures.

Accurate blood pressure readings are crucial for proper diagnosis and management of hypertension, and using the correct cuff size is essential to ensure that the measurements reflect the true pressure within the blood vessels. The proper cuff size should ideally cover 40% of the arm's circumference for accurate readings, while a cuff that is too large might misrepresent the actual blood pressure.