How much is blood pressure effected by the cuff used to measure it?

Question

I had a health screening last friday and because I have a big upper arm the nurse used a large cuff and my BP was scarily high (140/104). Today I got it measured at a blood pressure kiosk with a "normal" sized cuff and it was better (123/84).

I know both readings are high but I'm trying to track it to help decided if I want to take medication or not. I'm already trying to lose weight which I know will bring it down.

Answer 1

ACtually, the cuff size can affect readings, but usually in the opposite way from what you have described. If you have a large upper arm, a larger cuff should be used and it should show a more accurate reading than the smaller (normal) sized cuff. This reading usually is lower than the reading obtained with the smaller cuff.

What you may be experiencing is "white coat hypertension." Since a nurse took your pressure last friday, you might have been more aroused than when you were alone at a kiosk with no healthcare personnel around. Also, the automated machines will differ from a nurse who uses a stethescope to listen for the sounds. If you want to track reliably, get your own machine and use it at least once daily. You can get it calibrated at the doctor's office if you want to, but the more important thing will be how YOU perform over time on the same machine under similar testing conditions.

Answer 2

The larger cuff actually gives a better (lower) reading in those with larger arms, so there's been a major fluctuation, more than the numbers you posted, suggest. 123/84 is normal. That's why one gets multiple readings before deciding whether somebody is hypertensive. And neither the health-screening fairs nor the kiosks are ideal, as both tend to over-read elevations. You should continue to monitor your blood pressure, but the one elevation is not nearly enough upon which to base a decision.

Answer 3

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 4

The blood pressure cuff cuts the blood off in your arm and then is released slowly until the docotr gets the first reading , then it changes again and thats the second reading.