General guidelines for measuring blood pressure

The blood pressure level is not a constant value. It fluctuates continuously depending on the influence of various factors. Fluctuations in blood pressure in patients with arterial hypertension are significantly higher than in those without this disease.

One of the main factors affecting the level of blood pressure is a person's condition. Measurement of blood pressure can be carried out both at rest and during physical exercises or psycho-emotional stress, as well as in the intervals between different types of activity.

Measurements at rest allow us to estimate the approximate level of blood pressure at certain intervals, associated, for example, with taking medications or with other moments of life. Blood pressure is most often measured while sitting, but in some cases it becomes necessary to measure it while lying or standing.

To perform measurements at rest, it is necessary to provide a comfortable environment and fulfill the following requirements:

• 30 minutes before the measurement, it is necessary to exclude food intake, smoking, physical stress and exposure to cold;
• before measuring blood pressure, it is necessary to sit or lie down quietly (depending on the chosen position of the body at which the measurement will be made) and relax;
• measurement starts 5 minutes after resting;
• when measuring blood pressure in a sitting position, the back must be supported, since any form of isometric exercise causes an immediate increase in blood pressure. The midpoint of the shoulder should be at the level of the heart (4th intercostal space);
• in lying position, the hand should be located along the body and be slightly raised to a level relevant to the middle of the chest (a small pillow can be placed under the shoulder and elbow);
• during the measurement, you cannot talk and make sudden movements;
• if a series of measurements is carried out, it is recommended to change the initial position. The interval between measurements must be at least 15 seconds. (The recommended interval is 1 minute).
• In the pauses between measurements, it is advisable to ease the cuff.

Features of measuring blood pressure with automatic blood pressure monitor with a cuff on the wrist:

• remove watches or bracelets from the wrist on which the measurement will be carried out, unfasten and slightly bend the sleeve of the garment;
• place the blood pressure monitor on the wrist with the display upwards at a distance of 1 cm from the wrist;
• place the hand on which the measurement will be performed on the opposite shoulder, palm down;
• press the START button with your other hand and move this hand to the position supporting the arm with the blood pressure monitor under the elbow; stay in this position until the measurement is complete, when the remaining air from the cuff automatically releases.

Wrist blood pressure monitors are not recommended for people with changes in the vascular walls and irregularities in peripheral blood supply (atherosclerosis, diabetes, etc.). In these cases, before using the wrist blood pressure monitor, it is necessary to perform a control measurement with a blood pressure monitor with a cuff on the shoulder and make sure that there is no big difference in the readings.

When can a repeated blood pressure measurement be taken?

The time interval between blood pressure measurements depends on the tasks set, the patient's age, the presence of arrhythmias, and other factors. If it is necessary to perform a series of 2-3 repeated measurements, the time interval between them should be at least 15 seconds. In this case, the average value of these measurements is recorded.

Which hand is better to measure blood pressure?

The difference in arm pressure can be quite significant, so it is recommended to measure on the arm with higher blood pressure values.

Why can the results of medical measurements differ from the results of self-measurements?

Often, when measuring blood pressure by a doctor, patients have higher blood pressure values ​​(30-40 mm Hg higher) than when self-measuring at home, which is explained by the "white-coat effect", that is, stressful situations related to a medical examination. In some patients, something similar occurs even with self-measurement (hypertensive reaction to the measurement procedure). Therefore,when self-monitoring blood pressure at home, it is considered correct to repeat measurements 2-3 times in a row and take the average value of these measurements as the true level of blood pressure.

You can choose a suitable blood pressure monitor in the vast B.Well Swiss range: automatic, semi-automatic, wrist devices, aneroid blood pressure kits, and stethoscopes.  Measure blood pressure correctly and be well!