25.07.2024.
Your blood pressure reading can be influenced by a variety of factors, from nervousness during the measurement to recent lifestyle choices and even your posture. Understanding these potential influences can help ensure a more accurate reading.
Many things can affect a blood pressure reading, including:
- Nervousness about having your blood pressure taken. This is called “white coat syndrome.” As many as 1 in 3 people who have a high blood pressure reading at the doctor’s office may have normal blood pressure readings outside of it.
- What you ate, drank, or did before your reading. If you smoked, drank alcohol or caffeine, or exercised within 30 minutes of having your blood pressure measured, your reading might be higher.
- How you are sitting. Crossing your legs and letting your arm droop at your side rather than rest on a table at chest height can make your blood pressure go up.
It’s important to get an accurate blood pressure reading to get a clearer picture of your risk for heart disease and stroke.
- A reading that says your blood pressure is lower than it actually is may give you a false sense of security about your health.
- A reading that says your blood pressure is higher than it actually is may lead to unnecessary treatment.
Learn the correct way to take your blood pressure, whether you’re getting it checked at the doctor’s office or at home. Use this checklist:
- Don’t eat or drink anything 30 minutes before you take your blood pressure.
- Empty your bladder before your reading.
- Sit in a comfortable chair with your back supported for at least 5 minutes before your reading.
- Put both feet flat on the ground and keep your legs uncrossed.
- Rest your arm with the cuff on a table at chest height.
- Make sure the blood pressure cuff is snug but not too tight. The cuff should be against your bare skin, not over clothing.
- Do not talk while your blood pressure is being measured.
This is how healthcare professionals measure your blood pressure
First, a healthcare professional wraps an inflatable cuff around your arm. The health care professional then inflates the cuff, which gently tightens your arm. The cuff has a gauge on it that will measure your blood pressure.
She will slowly let air out of the cuff while listening to your pulse with a stethoscope. This process is quick and painless. If using a digital or automatic blood pressure cuff, the health care professional will not need to use a stethoscope.
The gauge measures the pressure in your blood vessels using millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
If you have high blood pressure, talk to your healthcare team about steps to take to control your blood pressure. This can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Use a blood pressure log to record your blood pressure measurements.
Take your blood pressure at the same time every day.
Take at least two readings, 1 or 2 minutes apart.
Talk with your healthcare team about how often you should have your blood pressure measured or when to measure it yourself. People who have high blood pressure may need to measure their blood pressure more often than people who do not.
If you are concerned about your blood pressure numbers, talk to your health care team. They can help you make a plan to manage high blood pressure.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/measure/index.html
