How you prepare for the test the position of your arm and other factors can change a blood pressure reading by 10 or more. Netea from the division of general internal medicine department of medicine university medical center st radboud nijmegen the netherlands.
Blood Pressure How To Use A Blood Pressure Monitor
Blood pressure measurement body position. However the two positions give different measurement values. If youre curious in which position sitting lying down or standing blood pressure is normally the highest its likely standing. Body position and blood pressure measurement in patients with diabetes mellitus r. The aim of the present study was to test the influence of the position of the patient. World health organization who guidelines recommend that the blood pressure bp should be routinely measured in sitting or supine followed by standing position providing that the arm of the patient is placed at the level of the right atrium in each position. 1 2 both for the identification and clinical management of hypertensive subjects the measurement of blood pressure bp is a.
With that in mind any time a value is recorded body position should also be recorded. When the blood pressure bp is measured the arm should be at the level of the heartin other words in the sitting and standing positions the arm should be extended out straight and should be about 2 3 inches below the shoulder to approximate the level of the heart. That could be enough to hide high blood pressure start you on a drug you dont really need or lead your doctor to incorrectly adjust your medications. Blood pressure blood pressure measurement blood pressure variability fowlers position hypertension hypertension affects hundreds of millions of subjects worldwide and currently represents a major public health issue in the agenda of all developed countries. Universal images group getty images. Systolic pressure is approximately 88 mmhg in the lying down position versus the sitting position but only when the person taking the measurement positions the patients arm so that it is at.
The aim of our study was to test the influence of body and arm position on bp measurement in diabetic patients. But even if your numbers are high your doctor may encourage you to come in and retake your blood pressure in a few weeks or measure it every day at home to verify that its true hypertension and not the result of some other issue affecting you. Blood pressure is commonly measured in the seated or supine position. It is normal to see a small amount of blood pressure fluctuation during different times of the daytaking multiple measurements corrects for these daytime fluctuations but there are some special timing issues that should be addressed. The position of both the body and the arm during indirect blood pressure bp measurement is often neglected.
Gallery of Blood Pressure Measurement Body Position
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