Posted on 03/06/2014 10:24:08 AM PST by nickcarraway
It may be a good idea to get a blood pressure reading in both arms rather than just one. A difference in those readings, a new study suggests, is an independent risk factor for heart disease.
Using data from a large health study, researchers examined 3,390 people 40 or older who were free of cardiovascular disease, following them for an average of more than 13 years. During the study period, 598 participants had a first heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular problems. More than a quarter of those had a difference in systolic blood pressure, the upper number in a blood pressure reading (which is measured in millimeters of mercury), of 10 or greater between one arm and the other.
(Excerpt) Read more at well.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Oh boy, another set of readings to check each morning.
Will have to check this with Doc at next visit, there has to be a reason they only take the readings on the left arm,?
If there is a suspicious large difference, I take the set over again. Sometimes the method of taking it leads to a difference.
By all means, this is NOT a precise measurement. All kinds of things modify the measurement. But if your BP is consistently below 100/50, you's better get some fluids with electrolytes in your system, right away.
Okay...BP 174/100, pulse 98 in left, 184/98 BP, pulse 104 in right...not a major difference.
Mine is always taken on my left arm.
Getting my right arm into the machine at Walmart is going to be difficult.
I take it around my neck, just like David Carradine used to do.
I take mine on the left , as instructed, every morning.
They are the same now, when I last posted the systolic readings where 25 apart.
This looks like just something else to talk about over a hot drink. :)
Bump for later
Interesting.
LOL!
my bp machine is made for the left arm only.
I’ve been asking this question for three years and both doctors and BP machine maker say it is no big deal. Now they are saying it is a big deal.
The nurse was correct -- our wrist unit read over 20 points higher.
R: 104/76
L: 109/75
Looks like I’m good to go - and not too bad for an old fart.
I take HCTZ (diuretic) for BP. I work hard w/ diet and exercise to keep mine 130/85 or so - sitting down, either arm. My BP standing up is 110/70 or lower. As an Engineer, BP seems to be highly variable and arbitrary.
My Walgreens wrist unit reads way low. If you are struggling with BP, best thing to do is take your device with you to the doctor and calibrate with the nurse doing your reading. The nurse will be wrong more times than you might think...
Oh wow, I do that all the time - I married a nurse. But you must be mistaken - she is never wrong :)
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