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Difference in brachial pressures greater than 20 mm Hg.

a) Suggests venous insufficiency
b) Indicates arterial disease
c) Implies normal circulation
d) Is within the normal range

User Dewey Reed
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Final answer:

A difference in brachial pressures greater than 20 mm Hg indicates an underlying arterial disease, which is significant enough to warrant medical attention. This measurement does not suggest venous insufficiency, imply normal circulation, nor is it within the normal range.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question at hand is evaluating the clinical significance of a difference in brachial artery pressures. Specifically, when there is a difference of more than 20 mm Hg between the two arms, it is a concern related to arterial pressure and the circulatory system. Notably, this scenario is a likely indicator of an arterial disease. Pathologies such as peripheral artery disease or atherosclerosis could be underlying causes of such a disparity in blood pressure measurements between limbs.

A difference in brachial pressures greater than 20 mm Hg is certainly not within the normal range and does not imply normal circulation. It most certainly does not suggest venous insufficiency, which is more related to the veins and their capability to return blood to the heart.

While variations in blood pressure are normal to some degree, especially with factors such as exercise affecting systolic pressure, a persistent and significant difference in blood pressure readings between the arms necessitates further medical investigation to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.

User Yaroslav Fyodorov
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