Mistakes That Can Give Wrong Blood Pressure Result

Going to the hospital looking normal and immediately you got there, you asked the nurse to come check your Blood Pressure. The Enthusiastic and diligent nurse quickly approached you and took your blood pressure while both of you had a chit chat. At the end, she told you that you have an elevated BP and you begin to wonder how that could be. I could have said it serves you right, but what good will it make if I do not call your attention to the errors made while taking BP measurement which could have been a factor why your blood pressure was elevated.

First do you know that going to the hospital alone can cause changes to blood pressure which can lead to misleading results but asides from this, there are other factors that could affect the expected result when checking blood pressure. First mistake with blood pressure reading that could lead to inconsistency or error in result is taking the reading immediately after sitting without a resting period.

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Measuring your blood pressure without adequate resting for up to 5 minutes can mean your body is not in true resting state. What could go wrong? The systolic blood pressure can increase by about 11mmHg. It is advisable not to immediately go to check your blood pressure when you get to the hospital, rather resting for up to five minutes in silence is the best.

The right time for anyone to tell a person you talk too much is when blood pressure is being measured because at any time during the measurement, talking can increase the systolic blood pressure by up to 7mmHg and this is because talking triggers a slight contraction in the muscles activating the sympathetic nervous system. But talking isn't the only wrong thing that can happen when taking blood pressure measurement.

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Not resting the back, crossing legs, and resting the arm used to take the reading on the lap are other reasons why there can be wrong measurements. Crossing your legs during a blood pressure reading can increase blood pressure up to 15mHg, while not resting the back and placing the arm on leg can increase blood pressure by 10mmHg and 6mmHg. Ensure to use a chair with a proper back resting, keep the legs far apart and relaxed, and place the arm at about the level of the right atrium of the heart.

Taking caffeine before blood pressure isn't a good idea as it can increase systolic blood pressure which can lead to wrong reading. Depending on the tolerance of the person drinking it, the caffeine can have negligible effects if it is consumed by a person who takes caffeine regularly but it is advise not to take it at all before checking blood pressure.

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Back to the first factor I mentioned where the presence of the patient in the hospital can lead to increased blood pressure. Patients with white coat hypertension can suffer from this because their blood pressure would spike as a result of their presence in a clinic, hospital, or medical center as a result of a stress response by just being there and it can increase systolic blood pressure by up to 30mmHg.

If you can get a machine to take your blood pressure at home, then it is fine but in taking this, you need to understand that you will need to do it twice in the morning and night and if your blood pressure is above 130/80, then you should visit a doctor because it can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and conditions, kidney failure, and stroke. Never joke with your blood pressure, and if you have not been able to check your blood pressure for a long time, you should do so and if it is high, then you should visit the doctor so your life can be safe.

Mistakes That Can Give Wrong Blood Pressure Result

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