Do’s & Don’ts to Get an Exact Measurement of your BP

Ensure Perfect Measurements to Avoid Medicine-related Complications

Sitting Without Support Kills the Chances of a Perfect Reading

Is it the sphygmomanometer that’s tricking our eyes or are we inducing the BP instrument to show different measurements with our faulty acts? Its quite strange that your BP readings differ slightly between instruments when measured back-to-back and even the same readings might show different measurements when taken twice in a while. The need has sprung up to monitor your BP at the comfort of your home owing to serious health consequences owing to varying blood pressure levels. But, even small issues that seem insignificant during the time of measurement might cause fluctuations in readings anywhere between 2 and 40 mmHg. Next time you think of getting your BP checked ensure that you follow the guidelines given here for an accurate measurement without which hearing the BP values could make your pressure go up high even further & the dosage further higher! Such high measurements can lead to debilitating side effects. Control your blood pressure levels with a lifestyle change that includes eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. Get in touch with nutritionists/dietitians at www.firsteatright.com to get a customized diet plan to keep BP under control.
​
The American Medical Association has stated the common positioning problems that can lead to increase in blood pressure levels. If the patient has:
​

• Crossed leg, the reading maybe offset by 2-8 mmHg
• Cuff over clothing, the reading maybe offset by 5-50 mmHg
• Cuff too small, reading maybe offset by 2-10 mmHg
• Full bladder, reading maybe offset by 10 mmHg
• Talking or active listening, reading maybe offset by 10 mmHg
• Unsupported arm, reading maybe offset by 10 mmHg
• Unsupported back/feet, reading maybe offset by 6 mmHg
  
  

Further, to ensure correct readings ensure that you:

• Don’t drink caffeine or smoke some thirty minutes before the BP is taken. Empty your bladder before going for the readings
• Sit at peace at least for 5 minutes before the test is taken
• Wear clothes that don’t disrupt placing the cuff on bare skin and that the cuff covers at least 80% of the upper arm
• Sit on a chair with the feet firmly placed on the ground and the arm supported such that the elbow is at the level of your heart
• Don’t talk or think about things that stress you while the measurement is taken
• Take the reading twice with a gap of at least 5 minutes between readings. If the difference is more than 5 points it is better to take a third reading
• Don’t take the reading early in the morning after waking up
  
  

As there are always exceptions there is exception to this too. If you feel dizzy when you get up in the morning or while standing up after sitting down it is necessary to check your readings sitting down and then once while standing too to check if there are wider variations in the resulting numbers. Also, get the BP measured in both the arms and take the highest reading as the final one for medications.
​
Failure to follow any of the above-mentioned guidelines (such as not placing the foot on the floor or abstaining from talking) can lead to incorrect readings that are high. This in turn makes the doctor prescribe high-dose medications that can be harmful on the body. Whereas, sticking by the recommendations helps in achieving correct measurements and medications prescribed for these readings.

---