Comments on: How to Improve Your Blood Pressure Check

By: Carolyn Thomas

Carolyn Thomas — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:16:33 +0000

Excellent advice here, Dr. Charles. After my heart attack, I was referred (as all cardiac patients should be!) to a 3-4 month supervised program of cardiac rehabilitation. I decided to walk from home to each morning session (as part of my ‘warm-up’) but this meant I’d frequently arrive at the session huffing and puffing from that last uphill climb. I’d go rushing into the cardiac nurse’s office to have my pulse and blood pressure checked before starting the exercise program, and invariably my BP would be alarming high. But we soon learned that if I sat there very quietly first (no chatting with the nurse) and breathing slowly and deeply (“Think relaxing thoughts!” my nurse would command) then slowly but surely over several minutes, my BP would return to normal limits and I was ‘good to go’.

And my family doctor now has an automated BP cuff in her office that takes six readings in a row over about 10 minutes. Boredom alone tends to lower one’s BP just sitting there waiting …. 🙂

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:49:45 +0000

I’ve always been curious about this. My PCP always suggests taking a few relaxed breaths before taking a blood pressure reading, and now my bp readings are always “perfect” rather than “slightly elevated.” But what would my bp be if you were able to do a reading without my knowing? Is it generally slightly elevated because my work is stressful? Or am I bringing it back down to normal by reducing my “white coat” stress?

By: Ellana

Ellana — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:54:56 +0000

I agree with Elizabeth. I run on the small side and some cuffs are too large for my arm and they want to wrap in around and around. I have low-normal blood pressure but if I don’t put my feet firmly on the floor for a bp reading, it is elevated. I always ask them to do it again but to let me sit where my feet can touch the floor .

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:16:29 +0000

4) Make sure that the blood-pressure cuff is the correct size for your arm. Many medical assistants will insist that they are using the Large cuff, when you can see printed right on the side that it only goes up to 39 cm. Measure your upper arm and know its circumference in centimeters, especially if it’s 39 cm or more.