Right way to measure blood pressure

Doctors or medical professionals take your blood pressure readings to check whether your blood pressure is high or low. How is the position of your hand while measuring blood pressure, did you exercise immediately, is your bladder not full, there are many such factors which can make a difference of 10 percent or more in your blood pressure reading. Because of this, the reading will not be correct and it is possible that the doctor may give you medicine for high blood pressure but you may not need it.

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There are many guidelines at the national and international levels regarding the right way to measure blood pressure, which should be followed. These days most people use a home BP machine and keep checking their blood pressure regularly at home. But during this time it is also important to know what things you have to keep in mind while measuring BP. What you should do to get the correct reading while measuring blood pressure -

• Do not smoke, exercise, or drink any caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee, etc.) at least 30 minutes before your blood pressure is measured.
• Keep in mind that your bladder is empty before checking blood pressure, otherwise wrong readings may come.
• If you have just eaten a full meal, check your blood pressure after at least two hours.
• Sit comfortably with your back straight and supported. That's why it would be better if you sit on a dining chair instead of a sofa.
• Keep your feet flat on flat ground and feet should not cross each other (do not sit cross-legged)
• Support your hands on a flat surface (such as a tabletop) so that your upper arms are at heart level.
• Before measuring blood pressure, sit comfortably in a chair for at least 5 minutes and relax the whole body.
• Apart from this, do not talk while measuring blood pressure.
• The inflated cuff area should cover at least 80 percent of your upper arm, and the blood pressure cuff should be applied to the skin, not clothing.
• If you are wearing very tight clothes on the arm area, then take them off as it can affect the reading even if the sleeves are rolled up.
• Measure your blood pressure at least 2 times and keep a break of at least 2 minutes between the two. If there is a difference of more than 5 points between the two readings, then take the reading for the third time also.
• Measure blood pressure twice a day in the morning and evening. In the morning on an empty stomach without any medicine or food and in the evening before going to bed and taking the medicine.

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It's also a good idea to measure blood pressure in both arms at least once, as readings taken in just one arm, especially in the right arm, can be higher than in the left arm. In a study published in the American Journal of Medicine in the year 2014, 3 thousand 400 were included. During the study, there was a difference of at least 5 points in systolic blood pressure readings from one arm to the other in all of these people.

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