New discovery on the best way to accurately measure blood pressure.

The research results revealed a surprising finding: Incorrect arm placement when measuring blood pressure can significantly skew the results, potentially "transforming" a healthy person into someone with high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is often silent, but if left untreated, it can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other serious cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, accurate blood pressure measurement is crucial, according to the research website Study Finds.

The patient's arm should be placed on a table or flat surface so that the middle of the cuff is level with the heart.

What did the study find?

To find out whether hand position affects blood pressure measurements, Dr. Tammy Brady, director of the pediatric hypertension program at Johns Hopkins Hospital (USA), and her colleagues conducted an experiment involving 133 participants aged 18 to 80.

The study authors wanted to compare blood pressure measurements taken with the arm placed in three different positions: placing the arm on a table, placing the arm on the thigh, or relaxing the arm – the three most common ways to position the arm when measuring blood pressure.

The results revealed that letting the arm hang loosely while measuring blood pressure resulted in a nearly 7-point higher systolic blood pressure (the upper number) compared to placing the arm on a table, and a 4.4-point higher diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) compared to placing the arm on a table.

Notably, this discrepancy is even more pronounced in patients with high blood pressure. Letting their arm hang loosely while measuring blood pressure can cause their systolic blood pressure readings to be inaccurate by as much as 9 points.

Similarly, placing your arm on your thigh when measuring blood pressure results in nearly 4 points higher systolic blood pressure and 4 points higher diastolic blood pressure compared to placing your arm on a table, according to Study Finds.

Allowing the arm to hang loosely while measuring blood pressure can cause the patient's systolic blood pressure to be inaccurate by as much as 9 points.

These discrepancies can "transform" many healthy individuals into people with high blood pressure who need to take blood pressure medication. For example, a real blood pressure reading might be 134, but if measured with the arm hanging down, the result could be over 140, considered stage 2 high blood pressure.

The lead author, Dr. Brady, said the nearly 7-point discrepancy in the relaxed arm posture was quite surprising.

The correct way to position your arm when measuring blood pressure.

According to the instructions, the patient's arm should be placed on a table or flat surface so that the middle of the cuff is level with the heart.

Researchers explain that when arms are lowered below heart level, such as when placed on the thighs or hanging loosely at the sides, gravity increases pressure in the arteries. Additionally, these postures lead to muscle tension and changes in blood flow, which can temporarily increase blood pressure.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phat-hien-moi-ve-cach-dung-nhat-de-do-huyet-ap-chinh-xac-185241008150910525.htm