What Arm Positions Affect Blood Pressure Readings the Most?
Blood pressure readings are made up of two numbers.
The first measures systolic blood pressure, the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps blood.
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Their diastolic pressure was 4.4 points higher in the same position.
The blood pools more heavily in the veins, and blood vessels constrict tighter.
All those lead to falsely high blood pressure readings, Hwang said.
What Other Factors Could Affect Blood Pressure Reading?
The environment in which a healthcare provider takes your blood pressure reading could lead to inaccurate results.
Hwang added that a simple blood pressure reading can become more difficult in a busy clinic.
Incorrect cuff size could also affect readings, Appel said.
But they may forget their training or work in a clinic that lacks the right tools.
Accurate blood pressure readings are crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment, Hwang said.
We cant diagnose high blood pressure correctly or monitor the effect of treatment without reliable and accurate measurements.
We want to see to it to treat people for the correct condition at the right time.
What This Means For You
Your arm and body position can affect your blood pressure reading.
2018;9:2150132718816929. doi:10.1177/2150132718816929
American Medical Association.4 big ways BP measurement goes wrong, and how to tackle them.
