Blood Pressure - are your readings wrong?

Are your blood pressure readings simply wrong?

How many times have you taken your blood pressure and found it to be high? How many times have you wondered if something was amiss with the machine because you really felt fine?

If you are among those who did, allow me to give you a host of reasons why your blood pressure readings can be wrong.

If you are talking or even actively listening to something or someone, it can add up to 10 mm Hg of pressure.

If you are sitting with an unsopported back and feet, it can add up to 6 mm Hg of pressure.

If your arm is not resting on something and is not supported, it can add up to 10 mm Hg of pressure.

If you have not taken the average of both your left and right arms, there can be a difference of up to 10 mm Hg of pressure.

If you have not had a glass of water and sat down for at least five to ten minutes before taking your pressure, it can add up to 10 mm Hg of pressure.

So, as you can see, there are a host of reasons why your blood pressure can vary from the actual.

Don't panic every time you see your blood pressure readings above normal. In fact, watching or monitoring your blood pressure readings all the time is likely to increase your blood pressure.

It is not my intention to suggest that you should ignore high blood pressure or dismiss it as a trivial problem. Blood pressure, left unchecked for years, can cause severe damage to your arteries.

All I am suggesting is that you make sure that your readings are correct. Blood pressure varies through the day depending on what you are doing, where you are and your state of mind.

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