I keep hearing differing methods!! I’d like to know how I’m suppose to sit?
To be clear: I am taking my own blood pressure & was urged to do so & keep track on the advice of my doctor.
Which is a myth?:
- Can’t have eaten/drank anything for the last half hour
- feet flat on the floor
- lying down but sitting up
- back against the chair
- don’t cross your legs/ankles
- only use your left arm
- hand facing upward
- hand facing downward
- keep your arm down
- keep your arm raised to the level of your chest/heart
What’s the correct way???
Anything else I should know? I keep getting inconsistent results, and it’s stressing me out.
Thank you.
If you have a blood pressure measuring device, follow the directions.
To ensure it is accurate, take it to a medical professional and ask them if they will help to verify the accurracy or what they advise. One person I know did this and the nurse they saw took the pressure a few times with their cuff, had the person run the machine a few times, and told them how to position themselves for consistency. The nurse was able to confirm the device was a couple digits off but otherwise consistent and gave them person the ranges they should worry about when using the machine.
The nurse also noted that a precise value is not super important, just whether it is outside a safe range or has large changes in a short period of time because blood pressure changes constantly. Taking it the same way each time is the most important thing to help notice changes over time.