When taking blood pressure, should I take the left arm or the right arm?

Usually, if different postures measured blood pressure values are very different, such as sitting and lying down blood pressure values completely different, in the end, we have which blood pressure value shall prevail?

First, the blood pressure should be sitting, or lying down?

Many people have the same problem as Uncle Zhang in life, each time the blood pressure measurement if the posture is different, there will be an unstable blood pressure value, and in the end, be measured in what position to be accurate.

In general, if the blood pressure values measured in sitting and lying positions are different, it is recommended that the value in the sitting position be the standard. This is because the brachial artery is closer to the level of the heart when a person is in a seated position, and the blood pressure measured at this time will be more accurate.

However, for some patients with mobility problems, you can also choose the lying position for measurement, but note that when measuring either sitting on the bed or directly lying down, can not maintain a half lying position, otherwise it is easy to measure inaccurately.

Second, the blood pressure is measured with the left hand or right hand?

Measure blood pressure in addition to posture, measurement of the left and right hand is also a lot of people tangled because the blood pressure value measured by the two hands will be different, in the end, which hand to use to measure more accurately?

Under normal circumstances, our blood pressure on the right side will be 5-10 mmHg higher than on the left side, which is determined by the anatomy and physiology of blood vessels. The brachial artery in the right hand comes from a branch of the cephalic wall trunk, while the left hand comes from the left subclavian artery. The pressure in the right vessel, which is closer to the source, will be higher, so the measured blood pressure value will also be higher.

The authoritative Diagnostics also gives the recommendation that the right arm prevails for each measurement, but some doctors have compared the blood pressure values of the left and right arms of hundreds of patients and found that the blood pressure values of the left hand would be higher than those of the right hand. Therefore, it is recommended to measure the blood pressure in the left and right hands once each time when measuring the blood pressure for the first time, after which the blood pressure on the side with the higher value is selected.

Dr. Dong Fengquan of the Department of Cardiology at Shenzhen University General Hospital said that the difference between the measured values of the left and right-hand blood pressure is not too big, which is a normal difference range.

Third, ignore these 5 points, no wonder your measured blood pressure is not accurate

When measuring blood pressure, many matters need attention, if you do not do these things, the measured blood pressure is likely to be inaccurate.

1, the blood pressure value is not placed properly

Many people who measure blood pressure will be randomly placed on the bed or table, this practice is not correct. The correct way should be to place the sphygmomanometer in a position flush with the heart, otherwise, it is easy to cause the blood pressure value to be affected under the action of gravity.

2, hold urine when measuring blood pressure

It is not recommended to measure blood pressure while holding urine, otherwise, the measured blood pressure value will be inflated by 10-15 mmHg. Before measuring blood pressure, it is best to empty the urine in the bladder to avoid affecting the measured blood pressure value.

3、Measure blood pressure immediately after sitting down

Under normal circumstances, to get an accurate blood pressure value requires a person to be at rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes, so that the body values are calmed down before measuring. If the blood pressure is measured directly without rest, the measured value will be easily inflated.

4、The cuff is tied too tightly

Some people are afraid of inaccurate blood pressure measurements in daily life, and will blindly tie the cuff particularly tight, but this will easily lead to the results being affected. The correct practice is to tie the cuff to the extent that it can be stretched to the tightness of a finger is appropriate, too loose, or too tight are likely to affect the results of the measurement. Note that the cuff should be in direct contact with the skin, rather than tied to the outside of the clothing.

5、Arms hanging in the air

This practice is also done by many people, this will lead to the measured blood pressure value being about 10 mm Hg high. The correct practice is to place the arm on the table and keep it flush with the heart.

Fourth, how to scientifically monitor blood pressure at home? Learn 3 points not to be confused

For patients suffering from hypertension, learning to monitor blood pressure in daily life is very important for the control of the disease, these three points are what you need to learn.

First, choose a relatively convenient blood pressure monitor, recommended to choose the upper arm electronic blood pressure monitor. This type of blood pressure monitor is relatively easy to operate, and the results obtained will be more accurate, and suitable for most ordinary people. Note that electronic sphygmomanometers should be calibrated regularly, at least once a year.

Secondly, the time of measuring blood pressure is also very important, it is generally recommended to measure 2~3 times each in the morning and at night before going to bed, and then take the average of the measurements. It is recommended that the blood pressure be measured continuously for 5-7 days to assess the changes in blood pressure, and if you find that the blood pressure changes are particularly large, it is recommended that you consult a professional doctor promptly.

Finally, the cuff of the sphygmomanometer is divided into models, for people with different arm thicknesses, to choose the right size for themselves. It is recommended to try on the sphygmomanometer when you buy it. A suitable cuff should fit the upper arm intact, with the lower edge about 2 to 3 cm above the transverse elbow line.

Measuring blood pressure is very important for people with hypertension, and it is important to learn the right way to measure it daily to avoid inappropriate ways that lead to inaccurate blood pressure measurements and affect blood pressure monitoring.