You might be skewing your blood pressure reading
Blood pressure is a critical vital sign that gives health care providers an insight into not only your overall health, but your cardiovascular health. When the cuff comes off and you are told your blood pressure is high, don’t panic. It might be as simple as repeating the reading.
Your blood pressure measures the force needed for your heart to successfully pump blood through your veins to various areas of the body. A healthy reading is considered 120/80 mm Hg.
“An accurate blood pressure reading is important because it helps your health care provider decide next steps, such as a treatment plan,” explains Dr. Leila Patterson, a family medicine physician at Advocate Health Care. “You blood pressure history is also a determining factor of whether you should be diagnosed with hypertension and considered at a higher risk for certain health conditions, such as heart disease.”
Some actions you unintentionally do before or during your reading can skew your blood pressure results:
1. Talking during the reading
It can be tempting to keep the conversation going during at your doctor’s appointment, but when the blood pressure cuff comes out, try to limit the chatter.
Talking can increase your blood pressure by 10 to 15 mmHg, according to the American College of Cardiology.
2. Positioning your arm wrong
Studies have found resting your arm on your lap or having it unsupported at your side can elevate your blood pressure. Instead, rest your arm on a surface where your elbow is at heart level.
It’s also best to sit with your back supported.
3. Crossing your legs
It’s great to feel comfortable while at the doctor’s office but try not to cross your legs or feet during your reading. Crossing your legs can restrict blood flow and elevate your blood pressure by a few points. To avoid this, keep your feet flat on the ground.
4. Forgetting to use the restroom beforehand
Believe it or not, the urge to pee does in fact raise your blood pressure by 10 to 15 mmHg. Try to make a pit stop before your appointment time.
5. Exercising or drinking caffeine
Engaging in physical activity or drinking caffeine within 30 minutes of your blood pressure reading can increase your heart rate. Try to plan out your day accordingly so there is time for your body to return to its normal state ahead of the reading.
“The key is to stay relaxed before and during the reading and to be cognizant of your body’s positioning,” Dr. Patterson reassures. “If your blood pressure reading is high, you can ask your care team to take it again. If you have white coat syndrome, you may benefit from self-reporting your blood pressure from home.”
Want to learn more about your risk for heart disease? Take a free online quiz.
Related Posts
Comments
5 Comments
About the Author
Anna Kohler, health enews contributor, is an external communications specialist for Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. She received her bachelor's degree in public relations from Illinois State University and has worked in health care public relations and content marketing for over five years. In her free time, she enjoys working out, exploring new places with her friends and family, and keeping up with the latest social media trends.
I very much appreciate this article. Anything that can help me to get accurate readings of very important to me!
I have found these things mentioned to be very true for myself along with a whole lot of other variables; different situations, different positions, different time of day, different blood pressure monitor and/or type of monitor (whether it’s electric/automatic vs handheld manual pump, cuff, use of a stethoscope & if needed manual hr check), even down to how much power the batteries have left if you’re using a portable device.
(Another important note : if you’re also using a pulse & oxygen saturation oximeter – ALWAYS put it on the opposite side than the one you’re measuring your BP on.
I personally have found BIG fluctuations in relation to time of day, health status, emotional state, when & what I eat & drink, what medications / vitamins / supplements / spices / teas, basically anything I ingest – also including…
-continued-
also including BUT NOT limited to anything inhaled (oxygen / asthma inhaler / smoking / etc…), lotions /creams / roll on’s / patches / etc…, and talking makes a very big difference.
For me this very rarely happens in the doctors office however during an emergency when 911 has had to be called for me; my blood pressure, my heart rate, even my blood sugar levels have significantly higher levels. Even when EMT’s have taken ECG readings they are very different from ones taken once I reach the hospital.
I have Dysautonomia – more specifically I have POTS along with several other autonomic conditions. I also have hEDS [(EDS: type III) (Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome: III)], along with numerous symptoms overlapping from Classical EDS & Vascular EDS (though not enough to meet diagnostic criteria (thank goodness).
I have to keep track of my BP & HR on a regular basis.
-continued-
I take 3 medications which impact my BP & HR (midodrine to raise my BP upon sitting and standing up, sm dose metoprolol to lower positional tachycardia (which without will fluctuate 35-50bpm), fludrocortisone to keep my blood volume up and to prevent loss of sodium. In addition to those I also take just about every vitamin & suppliment there is which is necessary for bodily functions – including the very important electrolyte supplements – high amt of fluid daily including liquid iv.
So for POTS I see several different specialists $ then in addition to POTS having EDS has included many other specialists.
I need to report my BP’S on a regular basis. Not just regular BP readings but bi-weekly Orthostatic Blood Pressure Readings + daily readings as well.
-continued-
Here are the directions from an RN at my MD’s office…
Directions for Orthostatic Blood Pressures
Please only complete the following with a friend or family member close by. As we discussed on the phone, I do not want you to fall. Please stop the process entirely and note that you felt like you were going to fall.
Please lay down for 5 minutes, then take your blood pressure and pulse while still laying down.
Then stand up and upon standing take your blood pressure and pulse again. Continue to stand and take your blood pressure and pulse after standing for 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes and 10 minutes. The table below is filled in with sample times for clarification.
If at any point you feel like you’re going to pass out or fall down, please sit down and take a blood pressure and pulse. Please note how you are feeling every time you take your blood pressure and pulse and record any symptoms you are feeling.
-continued-
Log BP, HR, Time (examples below), & Any Symptoms
BP Heart Rate Time Any Symptoms
Laying Down 10:00
Standing 10:01
2 minutes 10:03
5 minutes 10:06
7 minutes 10:08
10 minutes 10:11
*******
So, I have a question…
What positioning can I put my arm in & how (laying down & standing), and is it necessary to get more accurate readings! It sounds like it is so I want to do whatever I can to get the most accurate readings.