I have noticed that when a blood pressure cuff is tightened enough to actually hurt my arm, the blood pressure reading is higher than if the cuff is tightened only to the point of being very snug but not painful.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the cuff binding your arm too tightly rises your anxiety which increases blood pressure.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the cuff binding your arm too tightly rises your anxiety which increases blood pressure.”
Nope.
If you have high BP, it is necessary to make the cuff very tight to balance against internal pressure.
Then the pressure is gradually reduced until pulsating blood flow can be heard...and then until it’s completely gone.
Whether a machine or a nurse, the first step is to tighten the cuff to the point no pulse can be heard.