High blood pressure hypertension can put a strain on your arteries and organs which can increase your risk of developing serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes. When the blood pressure bp is measured the arm should be at the level of the heartin other words in the sitting and standing positions the arm should be extended out straight and should be about 2 3 inches below the shoulder to approximate the level of the heart. For example your blood pressure is often higher at the beginning of an office visit than at the end. For this reason here we offer you 8 tips to take your blood pressure at home correctly. Some people just lie down on their bed put on the monitor and start to pump without considering their posture. The aim of our study was to test the influence of body and arm position on bp measurement in diabetic patients.

Because things like temperature and stress can change blood pressure more than one reading in a single office visit allows the ability to correct for these variations. However guideliness for accurately measuring blood pressure inconsistently specify that patients position and they should keep feet flat on the floor. World health organization who guidelines recommend that the blood pressure bp should be routinely measured in sitting or supine followed by standing position providing that the arm of the patient is placed at the level of the right atrium in each position. This can lead to several false emergencies due to incorrect readings. Given the importance of strict bp control in diabetes patients 9 11 a correct bp measurement is also important for diagnosing orthostatic hypotension as a symptom of autonomic neuropathy. Surprisingly little information can be found in the literature with respect to the influence of body and arm position on the bp readings in diabetic patients.

How you prepare for the test the position of your arm and other factors can change a blood pressure reading by 10 or more. Take it calmly and pay attention to the signs. That could be enough to hide high blood pressure start you on a drug you dont really need or lead your doctor to incorrectly adjust your medications. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of different body on bp readings in a turkish healthy young adults. It is known that many factors influence an individuals blood pressure measurement. David guss director of emergency medicine at the university of california at san diego medical center.

To get an accurate read on your blood pressure sitting in a comfortable position with your feet on the ground after resting is the best option says suzanne steinbaum do a preventive cardiologist in new york city co author of lower your blood pressure naturally and a spokesperson for the american heart association. Doctors consider blood pressure to be one of the best gauges of a persons cardiovascular health. Blood pressure is the term used to describe the strength with which your blood pushes on the sides of your arteries as its pumped around your body. Arm position is important and it should be consistent from measurement to measurement says study co author dr.

Gallery of Correct Body Position For Blood Pressure Measurement