New discovery on the most correct way to measure blood pressure accurately

The research results have made a very surprising discovery: Incorrect placement of the arm when measuring blood pressure can greatly distort the results, possibly "turning" a person without the disease into a patient with high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is often silent, but if left untreated, it can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and serious cardiovascular disease. That's why accurate blood pressure measurements are so important, according to research site Study Finds.

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

What did the study find?

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

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

The results found: Letting your arm hang down while measuring blood pressure caused the systolic blood pressure (top number) to be nearly 7 points higher than when your arm was on the table, and the diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) was also 4.4 points higher than when your arm was on the table.

Notably, for patients with high blood pressure, this error is even more pronounced. Letting the arm hang down while measuring blood pressure can cause their systolic blood pressure to be off by up to 9 points.

Similarly, placing the hand on the thigh when taking blood pressure caused the systolic blood pressure to be nearly 4 points higher, and the diastolic blood pressure to be 4 points higher, than when the hand was placed on a table, according to Study Finds.

Letting your arm hang down while taking your blood pressure can cause your systolic blood pressure to be up to 9 points higher.

These errors can "turn" many people who do not have the disease into patients with high blood pressure and have to take blood pressure medication. For example, the real blood pressure is 134, but if the arm is hanging down when measuring, the result can be up to more than 140, considered stage 2 high blood pressure.

The nearly 7-point difference in the relaxed arm position was surprising, said lead author Dr Brady.

How to place your arm correctly to measure blood pressure

As a guide, the patient's arm should be placed on a table or flat surface so that the center of the cuff is level with the heart.

When your arms are below heart level, such as when resting them on your lap or hanging by your sides, gravity increases the pressure in your arteries. In addition, these positions cause muscle tension and changes in blood flow that can temporarily increase blood pressure, the researchers explain.

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