A blood pressure cuff is a medical device used to measure blood pressure, which indicates the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. It typically consists of an inflatable bag, a pressure gauge, and a valve. When the cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated, it temporarily stops blood flow, allowing healthcare professionals to listen for heartbeats using a stethoscope or to read the pressure on a digital display. Blood pressure is expressed in two numbers: systolic and diastolic. The systolic pressure measures the force when the heart beats, while the diastolic pressure measures the force when the heart is at rest between beats. Regular monitoring of blood pressure is important for assessing cardiovascular health and can help detect conditions like hypertension or heart disease.