Eight bad habits of measuring blood pressure
Whether it is an ordinary person or a person with high blood pressure, they all need to measure their blood pressure to understand their own health.
However, many people may measure "false blood pressure". Because of inattentiveness to some small details in the process of measuring blood pressure, it will affect the actual blood pressure value! Here are eight common bad blood pressure habits.
1. When measuring, put the blood pressure monitor casually
Many people take the blood pressure monitor and measure it directly, regardless of the placement of the blood pressure monitor. In fact, if the blood pressure monitor is placed in the wrong position, it will also affect the accuracy of the measured value.
Whether lying down, sitting or standing, the blood pressure monitor should be placed at the level of the heart, otherwise it will affect the blood pressure value under the action of gravity. And in the process of measuring blood pressure, the forearm and the heart should be on the same plane, and the legs should not be crossed.
2. Talk to others while measuring
During the blood pressure measurement, do not talk to others. Even listening to someone else can increase your blood pressure by 10 mmHg.
The most important thing in measuring blood pressure is - quiet.
3. The cuff is too tight when measuring blood pressure
If the cuff is too tight or too small for the blood pressure measurement, the measurement may increase by 2-10 mmHg.
Generally, when buying a blood pressure monitor, you need to check whether the cuff is suitable for your arm, especially for fat people. Generally, when measuring blood pressure, the lower edge of the cuff should be 2-3cm above the elbow joint, and the tightness of the cuff should be just enough for a finger to go in and out. Most cuffs will be marked with the word "artery", which means that when wearing the cuff, this should be aimed at the brachial artery.
Moreover, when measuring blood pressure, it is not good to stretch the arm too straight or clamp it too tightly. It is best to abduct 45° naturally and relaxedly, and do not compete with the cuff.
4. Roll up your sleeves to measure your blood pressure
Many people are accustomed to rolling up their sleeves to measure their blood pressure, especially in winter, but this wraps the upper arms too tightly, making the blood pressure lower than it actually is.
In order to avoid measurement deviation and reduce the inconvenience of undressing, you can measure through a layer of shirt or underwear. Studies have shown that as long as the thickness of the clothes does not exceed 0.5 cm, it will not affect the measurement results.
5. Take your blood pressure immediately after taking off your clothes
The action of undressing will increase blood pressure, and the systolic blood pressure will return to the level before undressing after 6 minutes of rest, and the diastolic blood pressure will return to the level before undressing after about 3 minutes of rest.
Therefore, it is recommended that you should rest for 6 minutes after undressing before measuring blood pressure.
6. Measure blood pressure only once
It is best to measure blood pressure 3 times each time, with an interval of 1 to 2 minutes between each time. Since the first blood pressure value is high in most cases, it is recommended to remove it and take the average value of the next two times.
7. Blood pressure monitors are never calibrated
Mercury blood pressure monitors are checked at least once a year, while manometer blood pressure monitors (also known as aneroid manometers) are calibrated at least twice a year. Automatic blood pressure monitors should be calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions before use.
Do not round up blood pressure values
8.When measuring blood pressure, the number is the number, and it cannot be "rounded up". For example, a blood pressure of 138/86 mm Hg, if recorded as 140/90 mm Hg, is high blood pressure.
