With the holidays soon approaching with iconic American meals such as green bean casserole, ham, stuffing, gravy, and stuffing on the menu, health experts advise the 120 million Americans who are presently being treated for hypertension to exercise extreme caution. Aside from the salty holiday meals, the difficulties in getting accurate blood pressure measures are a significant source of worry.
These measurements are crucial for hypertensive patients. Taking blood pressure measurements at home or in a medical environment does not ensure the same level of accuracy and consistency, according to several studies. Several variables, including the observer, the surroundings, and the characteristics of the measurement apparatus, might result in inconsistent results.
This is not specific to home monitoring; blood pressure values can vary even in a professional environment. Incorrect readings might have severe effects on persons suffering from hypertension. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in the United States, and hypertension makes it more likely. Standardization of blood pressure measures is required to reduce disparities, according to Dr. Harlan Krumholz, cardiologist and director of Yale University’s Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. Â
Researchers from the Yale New Haven Health System observed a wide range of blood pressure readings across 530,000 people in a study that reviewed 7.7 million measures. When comparing the readings of a single patient, an average difference of 12 mm Hg was discovered; this is comparable to the difference between high blood pressure and stage 2 hypertension. Individuals with extremely high blood pressure exhibited substantially more significant variation in their findings, with 32.3 mm Hg on average. Â
Because various practitioners use different procedures to acquire blood pressure measures, there needs to be more consistency. Some people, for example, wear wrist cuffs instead of arm cuffs, while others conceal the cuff with their clothing. For example, a person’s height is more correctly measured standing up on an examination table than sitting in a chair, implying that the subject’s position may potentially impact the measurements. Â
Precise blood pressure measurements are required for hypertension therapy. An incorrect measurement might result in the unneeded prescription of people with high blood pressure who don’t have any apparent symptoms. Follow these instructions if you want reliable results: Before taking your blood pressure reading, wait at least 30 minutes after eating nicotine, coffee, or indulging in strenuous physical exercise.
Allow yourself five minutes to relax before getting the measurement, and make sure your blood pressure monitor is calibrated and correctly fitted. Home blood pressure monitors must remain consistent. Daily measurements with the same certified blood pressure monitor in the exact location may offer a more accurate picture of one’s blood pressure levels than readings at different times or in other situations. Â
Blood pressure readings of 130/80 mm Hg or above are classified as high hypertension by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA). In comparison, readings of 140/90 mm Hg or more are classified as stage 2 hypertension by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Because hypertension is a substantial risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, doctors emphasize the need for proper and regular blood pressure monitoring all year, but especially over the holidays, when overindulgent eating can trigger changes. The fact that over 700,000 Americans will die from hypertension by 2021 emphasizes the crucial need for appropriate blood pressure control. Â
News Reference Â
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/11/30/why-high-blood-pressure-measurements-arent-accurate/71726440007/Â
