o Sit with your feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed, upper arm bare and with your back and arm supported. Record your blood pressure at least twice each time; take the readings 1 minute apart. Wait at least 2 minutes after standing to record your blood pressure if your GP asked for standing blood pressure readings.
Use a blood pressure log [PDF – 284 KB] 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.
When it comes to blood pressure, one reading may not be enough. Forty-six percent of Americans have high blood pressure, but studies show when it's taken twice at your doctor's office - with at least one minute in between - the second reading is typically lower and a more accurate measurement.
Solely relying on your first blood pressure reading may lead to an inaccurate diagnosis because it's usually higher than the second reading. Your doctor or nurse should take more than one reading and compare the results for better accuracy.
Don't check your blood pressure too often.
Some people find that they become worried or stressed about small changes in their readings if they take them too often. Worrying can also raise your blood pressure in the short term, making your reading higher than it should be.
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.
Everyone's blood pressure rises and falls many times during the course of a single day, sometimes even within minutes.
“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.”
A repeated difference of more than 10 mm Hg in blood pressure measurement between the arms can be a sign of a health problem such as: Blocked arteries in the arms, known as peripheral artery disease. Diabetes. Kidney disease.
A BP difference between the left and right arms—even when large—is statistically a normal variant and need not necessarily cause concern. When the disparity is persistent, however, the arm with the higher pressure should be used for all subsequent BP measurements.
Systolic pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading) measures the force with which the heart pumps blood into the arteries. Diastolic pressure (the second, lower number) reflects the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
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.
It is not until you pump up and release the blood pressure cuff 3 to 5 times that you will get an accurate reading. The difference in the first reading to the last could increased by 10 points or more. Try It Yourself: If you have an automatic blood pressure cuff, take your blood pressure 5 times in a row.
Take a repeat reading.
Wait 1 to 3 minutes after the first reading, and then take another. If your monitor doesn't keep track of blood pressure readings or heart rates, write them down.
However, even a device that has passed an accepted validation test will not provide accurate readings in all patients; the error may be consistently ± 5 mm Hg in many individuals, especially elderly patients or patients with diabetes.
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.
Fluctuating blood pressure can be normal, as blood pressure varies somewhat throughout the day. Stress, exercise, and sleep can all make a difference. But if your blood pressure often changes significantly from one healthcare visit to another, there may a problem.
Secondary high blood pressure (secondary hypertension) is high blood pressure that's caused by another medical condition. It can be caused by conditions that affect the kidneys, arteries, heart or endocrine system. Secondary hypertension can also occur during pregnancy.
Your blood pressure should be checked in the morning, about an hour after you wake up, and in the evening, about an hour before you go to sleep, using the same arm each time. Taking 3 consecutive measurements (about 1 minute apart) will provide a more accurate understanding of your "true" blood pressure.
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.
"The two numbers should never be more than 60 points apart," Dr. Elefteriades says. "Being 70 points apart suggests there could be a deeper problem, such as a leaky valve" — a condition in which bloodflow through the heart becomes more turbulent than normal.
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.
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.
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.