Why is it my blood pressure keep changing?
What is the correct position to take your blood pressure?
If I sit and with a straight position , my BP gives me readings
around 135/85 but as soon I sit and get my back relaxed into my
executive chair my BP drops to 125/80. What is the correct position when you sit to get an accurate BP reading? Thanks
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Here's a cut and paste on home monitoring.
Home monitoring
For some patients, blood pressure measurements taken in a doctor's office may not correctly characterize their typical blood pressure. In up to 25% of patients, the office visit blood pressure reading is higher than their typical blood pressure. This type of error is called white coat hypertension and can result from anxiety related to an examination by a health care professional.[5] The misdiagnosis of hypertension for these patients can result in needless and possibly harmful medication. On the other hand, in some cases a lower than typical blood pressure reading occurs at the doctor's office and these patients may fail to get needed treatment for hypertension.[6]
Ambulatory blood pressure devices that take readings every half hour throughout the day and night have been used for identifying and mitigating these problems. Except for periods during sleep, home monitoring could be used for these purposes instead of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.[7] Home monitoring may also be used to improve hypertension management and to monitor the effects of lifestyle changes and medication related to blood pressure.[8] Compared to ambulatory blood pressure measurements, home monitoring has been found to be an effective and lower cost alternative.[7][9][10]
Aside from the white coat effect, arterial pressure readings outside of a clinical setting are usually slightly lower in the majority of people. The studies that looked into the risks from hypertension and the benefits of lowering the arterial pressure in affected patients were based on readings in a clinical environment.
When measuring blood pressure, an accurate reading requires that one not drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, or engage in strenuous exercise for 30 minutes before taking the reading. A full bladder may have a small effect on blood pressure readings, so if the urge to urinate exists, one should do so before the reading. For 5 minutes before the reading, one should sit upright in a chair with one's feet flat on the floor and with limbs uncrossed. The blood pressure cuff should always be against bare skin, as readings taken over a shirt sleeve are less accurate. During the reading, the arm that is used should be relaxed and kept at heart level, for example by resting it on a table.[11]
Since arterial pressure varies throughout the day, measurements intended to monitor changes over longer time frames should be taken at the same time of day to ensure that the readings are comparable. Suitable times are:
* immediately after awakening (before washing/dressing and taking breakfast/drink), while the body is still resting,
* immediately after finishing work.
Automatic self-contained blood pressure monitors are available at reasonable prices, some of which are capable of Korotkoff's measurement in addition to oscillometric methods, enabling irregular heartbeat patients to accurately measure their blood pressure at home.
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