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.
Extra info you didn’t ask for but might help: the doctor gave me a sheet to record my BP for a week. Two readings in the morning, a few minutes apart, two readings in the afternoon, a few minutes apart. Once I’d done that he added and divided the results to get the average. Too high, so now I’m on meds.
I was a bit blasé about it at first - pfft, I feel fine! But he explained that high BP can cause a stroke. You can recover just fine from a heart attack, but a stroke can be devastating, if you even survive it. You will feel absolutely fine until suddenly you’re on the floor, unable to move one side of your body or speak coherently. Scared me into taking it seriously!