Home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for medical visits. Home blood pressure monitors might not always be correct. Even if you get readings that are typical for you, don't stop or change your medications or your diet without talking to your care provider first.
Most monitors you find in a drugstore or online are fine, Dr. Laffin says. But it doesn't hurt to take it to your doctor's office and check yours against the office monitor. “If the systolic blood pressure (the top number) on your cuff is within 10 points of the monitor, then it's generally accurate,” he says.
It also helps doctors make quick medication adjustments to keep blood pressure in the healthy zone. But home blood pressure monitors aren't always as accurate as they should be. "Home blood pressure monitors may be inaccurate in 5% to 15% of patients, depending on the threshold for accuracy used," according to Dr.
Some people consistently get different blood pressure readings outside a medical office — even when blood pressure is measured correctly and repeatedly. If your home blood pressure readings are accurate and consistently higher than those at your provider's office, you might be at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
If a cuff is too small or too large, errors in measurement can occur. Adding to inaccuracy are automated devices that have not been tested for accuracy, which can account for errors in systolic BP.
A cuff that is too snug or too loose on the mid-upper arm can lead to greatly exaggerated blood pressure measurements, results of a community-based study show.
Everyone's blood pressure rises and falls many times during the course of a single day, sometimes even within minutes.
After the first week
Once you have a record of your blood pressure over a week, you can take readings less often – once every one to two weeks perhaps. Your doctor or nurse can talk to you about this, there's no need to measure it too often.
Dozens of at home blood pressure machines were tested in the study. According to the results, the participants' home blood pressure monitor readings were off by around 5 mmHg a shocking 70% of the time.
Take your blood pressure at the same time every day. Take at least two readings, 1 or 2 minutes apart.
Surges of anxiety can cause blood pressure spikes, but these are typically temporary. Over time, however, chronic anxiety can begin to have an adverse effect on someone's baseline blood pressure. We understand your desire to manage each of these conditions without the use of medication.
Your first blood pressure reading will almost always be higher than the second due to a wide range of factors, both environmental and psychological. These factors include white coat syndrome, stress, and having a full bladder.
Conclusions. Single-arm measurements, compared to double-arm measurements, may underestimate the prevalence of hypertension. However, if double-arm measurements are unavailable, right arm is preferred for measurement of BP, especially in women.
If your blood pressure monitor is more than 3 years old then it may be time to look into getting a new blood pressure monitor. First check your blood pressure monitor for warranty information. Each blood pressure monitor has varying warranties. You may be able to get a free replacement or calibration.
“It's actually quite normal to have variation in blood pressure readings, even within a few minutes,” says Marjorie Willett, nurse practitioner at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center. “Factors that may create changes include physical activity, emotion, diet (especially salt and alcohol intake), and sleep deprivation.”
Blood Pressure Measurement Should be Taken With The Arm Straight.
You're using the wrong-sized cuff
The most common error when using indirect blood pressure measuring equipment is using an incorrectly sized cuff. A BP cuff that is too large will give falsely low readings, while an overly small cuff will provide readings that are falsely high.
Don't smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Empty your bladder and ensure at least five minutes of quiet rest before measurements. Sit correctly. Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a sofa).
In the American Heart Association BP measurement guideline [12], the following statement was described without any citation: 'three readings should be taken in succession, separated by at least 1 min. The first is typically the highest, and the average should be used as the blood pressure reading.
Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening. Blood pressure is usually lower at night while sleeping.
And does dehydration cause high blood pressure? Drinking water can help normalize your blood pressure but doesn't necessarily lower your blood pressure unless you are dehydrated. Because your blood is made up of 90% water, the overall volume will decrease when you are dehydrated.