If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, chances are great that it’s a misdiagnosis or that your blood pressure is not as high as your doctor says.
Millions of people are forced on blood pressure medications every year without even having borderline high blood pressure.
Not only is this a waste of money and causes unneeded side effects, putting someone with normal blood pressure on medications may actually cause blood pressure to be too low, causing additional problems.
Even the best of medical people can make mistakes when measuring blood pressure. And taking blood pressure during only the few minutes per month or year your doctor sees you can be very misleading since that may not accurately reflect your average state of pressure.
That’s why in today’s feature article, I’m going to give you some tips on how to accurately measure your blood pressure at home as well as how your doctor should measure your blood pressure in his/her office.
First of all, if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it’s essential that you get your own blood pressure cuff and take your pressure at home. Even if the home cuffs are not as accurate as the ones in the doctor’s office (but many are) this will give you reality test on if your blood pressure is really high and if whatever you’re doing to fight it is working.
Year after year, the highest rated cuffs according to “Consumer Reports” are the cheap Wall Mart brand cuffs. So you don’t have to hand over much cash to get good quality.
Make sure you buy a digital monitor. They may cost a little more but it will save you so much hassle and the risk of misdiagnosis. Many of those will store your readings so you can take them to your doctor with data if your readings contradict his/hers.
I recommend taking your blood pressure two or three times per day, always around the same time. Your pressure will vary greatly from morning, midday and noon so that will give you accurate averages for blood pressure. You’ll also learn when your blood pressure is highest and when it’s lowest.
Avoid any stimulants 15 minutes before taking your pressure. This includes: coffee, tobacco, food, exercises, stress (if possible), sudden temperature change etc.
For best results sit quietly for 2-5 minutes before taking your pressure and relax with deep breathing. This will remove tension from your body and give you more balanced pressure instead of representing what’s going on around you in the moment.
Monitors vary a little so make sure you follow the manufacturers’ directions. In general you should place your cuff on your right arm or wrist (depending on monitor). Try to always put the cuff on the same area every time you measure (preferably around the pulse). Bend your elbow and have your front arm rest on something supportive, then simply press the button to inflate. Breathe in a relaxed way while the measuring is being done.
Then record your numbers.
Don’t be afraid if you see occasional spikes in blood pressure. Your blood pressure rocks up and down from moment to moment. While engaging in physical activity or emotional situation, it can even spike above dangerous levels. While relaxing and listening to calming music, it will drop to your best level. This is normal.
If one measurement is very high while the others are low, there was something going on at that moment or that day that raised your blood pressure.
Nothing to worry about!
In fact, the numbers you should pay most attention to are the lowest measurements. If you see 117/76 in the morning and then 135/92 in the afternoon, I’d not consider that you had hypertension even if the border is 120/80 and the average would be over that. You may want to use some natural methods or lifestyle changes to make your blood pressure better but it’s not really high blood pressure in my opinion.
Note: I’m not a medical doctor and my advice should not replace that of a licensed practitioner.
Now to your doctor’s office…
If your average blood pressure at home is significantly lower than at the doctor’s office, you may suffer from what’s called “white coat syndrome.” This is when the stress of having a medical person take your pressure actually causes it to spike in the moment so that it looks like you’re hypertensive when you are not.
But the difference in numbers in the doctor’s office may also be caused by his/her mistakes.
A good doctor will make at least four readings. The American Heart Association recommends this procedure:
“Take your patient’s blood pressure twice while he’s standing, then record the average of the two; next, take it twice while he’s sitting and record the average of those two. Document which pressure was taken with the patient standing and which with him sitting. Use the sitting measurement as your final reading- the standing measurement is a reference point only.”
Your doctor should encourage you to relax before taking the readings and not keep up a conversation while the monitor is working as talking and even listening may cause spikes in blood pressure. Make sure you doctor is using the right cuff size for you.
If your doctor isn’t open to taking into account the difference between your home readings and his/hers, or take the time to do four readings, you have to seek a second opinion. Your life may depend on it because you’re being treated for a condition based on misinformation.
I’ve heard from our readers how they were often forced by their doctor to go on medications even if they knew in their heart that it was wrong. And most of the time medications are very ineffective to treat a misdiagnosis or white coat syndrome.
Now if you have average blood pressure over 120/80, you definitely want to take action to bring it down. The most effective method I’ve come across to drop blood pressure permanently are a simple, 9-minute series of blood pressure exercises.
You can learn more about these blood pressure exercises here…
But first, please leave your insight about this article in the comment section below.
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very interesting point of view I certainly will not take medication because my Bp is Av.120/80 or the ocassional 90 I would certainly resort to excercise and mintoring on a regular basis and lifestyle changes everone does not have or cannot have 110/70 trying to attain that level can actually make some folks feel off balance. one size does not fit all definitely all your points are valid and I am qualified to give this opinion
Thank you. highly informative.somapala vithanage ([email protected]).
Not the white coat problem at doctors but the long waiting times when you have to be somewhere else, that increases the blood pressure.I have at 71 an reading average of 130/75 at Doctors that is 150/90 he wants to give medicens based on his reading with I have refused.
can you give information in heart FLB i have a hard time getting bp readings because of it i take pradaxa diltiazem glyburide pravastatin. they all make me dizzie alot.they make me feel slow and no energy. any info will be helpful.
This is good informative article for layman. The white coat effect is for sure.
Thanks, but apart from taking my drugs, codiovine, atenonol, stamlo, exercise is not helping me, rather its weakens me, the drugs too is full of complications. I just don't know what to to do. I am blood type A and I am 54years.
This is very interesting – definitely agree should measure at home.
I've had nurses ask me questions and encourage talking while she was taking the BP measure.
I have noticed that my 1st readings @ the doctors is always high and request for a 2nd reading which is usually lower.
Your relaxation exercises have changed my life. I don’t do the complete exercises regularly, but have developed a sense of when to have a 2minute break and relieve some stress. This has made a world of difference for me. Thanks.
I am 91 years old and currently taking three medications to lower my blood pressure. The first two had no effect , so the doctor had me double them. The third one has lowered my blood pressure a significasnt amount and I stopped taking a double dose of the first two with no adverse reaction. One doctor I have seen told me he thought people my age should have a higher threshold for normal pressure, such as 150/80. I am only scheduled to see my cardiologist every four months so I haven’t reported the changes in my readings or the reduction in medications, nor has his office inquired if there has been any change. As long as the readings remain within a lower framework I’ll continue to go as I am. I also bought a new monitor.
Thanks. Good information. `am on your Blood Pressure Exercise Program and it is good.
This article correctly advises. BP should be taken several times a day and stimulants prior to should be avoided. BP will vary greatly during the day to circumstances so don’t be overly alarmed unless high counts become consistent.It is always better to try to control BP by diet and exercise rather than by meds unless it is not advisable to take this route. We are all genetic time machines and the BP is related to this.
I have been an emergency medic for over 15 years and, when I must visit the doctor, my pressure will rise at least 10 points simply by entering his office.
To many Dr's. let their nurse take the reading and leave it at that.. I trust the nurse, but the Dr. should verify it himself and take it several times if necessary. I have yet to find a Dr. to do this….
I agree with the article. Haven't tried the exercises but will. Currently on medication but I'm wondering whether it's really required. Tks
good suggestions and observations; the most effective action in reducing my blood pressure seems to be a 30-40 minute walk; I have purchased your program but have only had limited success; the first part seems equivalent to a walk; the second part seems equivalent to yoga; and the third is just hard to do;…… am on four drugs and also taking dietary supplements; – natto etc…..I’ve had high blood pressure most of my life; but now at age 66 must address it more seriously…..there seems a lot of information and misinformation out there; this morning I saw an advertisement for another supplement which includes capesicum pepper and hawthorne extract…..might be worth trying….. I puurchased a product called ” Natto – BP ” and another called ” IntelliKal ” … both containing Japanese fermented soybean food….. Both these pills are large, hard to swallow caplets; and so I just decided to purchase the actualy Natto at the oriental grocery and mix it into soups or salads; the fermented soybean is tasteless although somewhat slimy; when mixed into a vegetable soup or a tabouleh salad it is almost undiscernable….
I occasionally go to a chiropractor for adjustments and he takes my blood pressure and always tells me that it’s fine, then I go to my primary care doctor and they always detect high blood pressure. Now I’m on meds for that. Talk about confusion.
Informative article and I agree on everything about it. Thanks
Thank you for the information, I will combine exercise with the drugs I am using praying that both will help bring it down.
I am told not to take my pressure every day. The doctor thinks that makes my pressure go up. I have high pressure it goes up to 5 or 6 hundred over 78 I thank you for all your help. You seem so thoughtful to me. Harriet
Thanks, for your articule. My B\P is very erittic,in mornings seems to me to really to low. all the way from 103/55 to 116/60. Later in the evening begins to come up gradually and by nine O’clock some where around 150/72 some time 170/80.I take medication Vasotic 5ml.Lately I’ve been cutting it in half and taking at 9;00. PM. I also Coumadin which foesn’t help the situation.
Thanks for listening.Age 83 Lynne Capocasa
Can you tell me why nurses usually take my blood pressure with my arm resting on the arm of a chair and doctors almost invariably sit me on the exam table and tuck my arm under theirs so that the arm is almost 90 degrees to the upper body?
While I don't have a problem with b/p, my husband does and is on a statin which I feel is a mistake. His b/p fluctuates, as you wrote about in the above article, and unfortunatey I believe his readings many times are incorrect.
I appreciate the blood pressure exercises. My husband and I also review our b/p frequently with our own monitor.
Great info! My Dr told me not to take readings at home – not sure why. I think your suggestion makes more sense, i.e to take it 3 x a day. Will do the relaxation bit in future to see if it makes a difference. I usually test it on my left arm – does that matter?
Interesting, I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and as soon as I was put on medication I bought a blood pressure machine. I found that every time I took it, the second test within a few minutes was always lower and I felt the most accurate. I still take the mds, which I hope is a small dose, 8mg and my blood pressure is in the low twenties over 63. I exercise regularly and eat correctly which I think helps. Interesing articles, thanks
Thank you for the article – it backs up what I’ve always thought. The last couple of weeks I’ve been monitoring my BP and I’ve found the highest my systolic has been is 134 and my diastolic has been as low as 68. My highest readings are usually first thing in the morning, my lowest are at night. However when I’m at the doctor’s my pressure goes right up (last reading the dr took was 150/95). I try to relax when I’m waiting for her but find it impossible. Rebecca, age 35
This article is very important as I am battling to reduce my BP.I have read all your articles on hypertension.
Followed the advice. The last one would be the exercise.
I am 1.5 m tall and weif=gh a whooping 86kgs and have cona=stant headaches.
Have to reduce the weight.
Mona Gounden
Thanks. Found the information very useful. But please I want to know if coffee taking has anything negatively with blood pressure
Why the right arm? I was always told the arm closest to the heart, which is the left arm. And it’s Wal-Mart, not Wall Mart…lol.
to StephenGale,I read your comments in particular your mention of japanese soy based pills. If these are made from miso soy paste as the name implies I would advise you that they probably contain a very high salt content which could boost blood pressure. This should be checked out before taking ttomany.
Regards
tony
Well, as for me, I don’t have any problem regarding bp measurement. I had been getting my own bp and they’re all correct based on the article online right now. I’m so thankful for publishing this for the information of the many. God bless.
This is a very good and helpful article for the common man and deserves to be circulated widely.
I find your article very interesting and informative.
???????????? sorry i did not understand it.at all