Why would the nurse ask me to stand while taking my blood pressure?

Question

My blood pressure was high (142/90) and I told her that if she waited a few minutes and took a reading again, that it would be lower. It always was in the past. Instead she immediately told me to stand up and she took the reading again. She was preoccupied and unprofessional to begin with so I didn't bother to ask her why. I'll be looking for a new doctor anyway, but I was curious if anyone knew the purpose of taking a BP reading while standing. Thanks.

Answer 1

This is a common practice to assess blood pressure in a variety of different positions. This can be used to assess for an abnormal response to changes in position. A drop in blood pressure when changing from a lying to a standing position can be dangerous as a patient can pass out and blood flow can be impeded to important organs.

Answer 2

That is a very important issue--believe it or not. Sometimes they will have you to lay down--sit--stand-- and the reading can be different. The bp can go up or go down and basically it should not be much if any different. She did know what she was doing.

That is a very borderline high bp. If it goes up when you stand, then you are definitely a canidate for medicine for high bp.

Answer 3

While seated, your blood blood flow is obstructed. Think of it as pinching the garden hose, after a while the pressure builds. Standing is releasing the pressure. But,I doubt it will make much of a difference.

Answer 4

Us doctors ask for a "lying and standing" or a "postural" blood pressure in cases where we suspect orthostatic hypotension

Answer 5

To get a standing pressure.

Coach

Answer 6

She actually did know what she was doing and that makes you a moron.