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Practice doesn\u2019t necessarily make perfect, and this is especially true when taking blood pressure.<\/p>\nPractice doesn\u2019t necessarily make perfect, and this is especially true when taking blood pressure.<\/p>\n
Many people don\u2019t realize that WHEN and WHERE you take your blood pressure is as important as HOW.<\/p>\n
This can lead to misdiagnosis where people who don\u2019t actually have high blood pressure are forced on medications with serious side effects.<\/p>\n
Today we\u2019ll talk about the 3 most common mistakes people make when measuring their blood pressure.<\/p>\n
#1 \u2013 The first mistake is taking your blood pressure only once per day.<\/strong> Because blood pressure levels fluctuate throughout the day, it is important to get a reading at different times during the day to get a better idea of what your average is. <\/p>\n It\u2019s also a great way to pinpoint the times of day that cause the BP spikes so you can target those for lifestyle and stress adjustment if needed. You also want to make sure that you are checking it several times per week and not just sporadically.<\/p>\n #2 \u2013 The second mistake that people commonly make is to only have blood pressure taken at the doctor\u2019s office<\/strong>, thinking that\u2019s the only accurate way to get a reading. In truth, \u201cwhite coat syndrome,\u201d or an elevated blood pressure due to the anxiety of being in the doctor\u2019s office, leads to a huge number of false readings. Getting a good home monitor and taking it frequently in the comfort of your own surroundings helps eliminate this mistake.<\/p>\n And follow your own readings. If your blood pressure at home is normally below 120\/80 but your doctor wants you to take medications because his\/her readings are higher, get a second opinion from a doctor who understands white coat syndrome.<\/p>\n