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Correctly Take Blood Pressure At Home

Discussion in 'How Do I?' started by Mary Stetler, May 3, 2024.

  1. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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  2. Steven Stanick

    Steven Stanick Very Well-Known Member
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    Excellent post and very applicable at different medical facilities.
     
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  3. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    More often than not, the doctor's aide who checks my blood pressure during doctor's visits screws it up.
     
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  4. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I had that happen once. I was wearing a sweater, and as I started rolling up my sleeve she told me to not bother. My doctor came in and noted that my blood pressure was high. I told him the problem was a training issue.
     
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  5. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    It seems that most doctor visits I go to, they NEVER do a BP reading correctly. They always take the reading over my sleeve, ALWAYS ask me 50 questions as soon as the test starts, don't wait a few minutes after I've walked across the giant facility, always have the cuff too tight. Those automatic BP machines are the absolute worst for pumping the cuff until it actually hurts.
     
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  6. Tony Nathanson

    Tony Nathanson Very Well-Known Member
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    Before & after a tooth extraction, the assistant started to take my BP. I'm always cold in dentist offices, so I was wearing a thick coat, rated for 20 below zero.
    She wrapped the cuff around my arm, over the coat. I said, "Shouldn't I take the coat off?" She said, "No, it's not necessary." I just chuckled.
     
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  7. Steven Stanick

    Steven Stanick Very Well-Known Member
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    Unbelievable!
     
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  8. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I was at my doctor's office and the nurse took my blood pressure through my sweater. Like Nate, I questioned it and she said it was OK. When my doctor noted how much my BP had changed, I told him he's got a training issue to deal with. But at least she cranks out billable events...
     
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  9. Steven Stanick

    Steven Stanick Very Well-Known Member
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    A "helper" at my doctor's office had me stand up and extend both are outward and began to wrap the BP device on my arm. I interrupted her and had her remove it. Then I sat and told to continue as I placed my arm level with my heart.
     
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  10. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
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    What she meant is, 'I'm not necessarily worried about your health it's the money we want'.
    Jakes BP was very high, but they pulled the tooth and got $540.00. It was abscessed so they did give him antibiotics.
     
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  11. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    I have learned much about taking blood pressure lately, On thing that is helping me, is the breathing once or twice before hitting the button. I think someone on here posted- about that- it works
     
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  12. Steven Stanick

    Steven Stanick Very Well-Known Member
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    Give yourself 30-60 seconds of nonmovement and relaxation before hitting the button. When my BP was reading in the mid 140s my doctor would have me lay still for a few minutes then came back in and it read lower every time.
     
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  13. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    Placement is the most important thing, although the scenario often seen in doctor's offices, where the blood pressure is taken as soon as you enter the office, doesn't make for an accurate representation of the patient's normal B/P, since it's usually higher than it would be if they waited 5 or 10 minutes. On the ambulance, we carried the manual sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, and an automatic B/P, and the measurements were pretty close.
     
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  14. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    I always read higher with the automated ones, no matter the office or at home. Maybe I am just afraid of machineso_O
     
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  15. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Same here.
     
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