Q: Which is the correct way of monitoring my blood pressure – while breathing normally or while inhaling deeply and exhaling lengthily? Just a while ago, the former resulted in 140/67 (pulse rate 63) as the average of 3 takes; with the latter, it was 118/62 (pulse rate 62).
A: You should be breathing normally when you take your blood pressure. The recommendation of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC) is to sit quietly in a chair for five minutes prior to measuring blood pressure
(34 votes, average: 3.94 out of 5)
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Yes, but many Dr’s do not allow patients to have the 5 min rest period prior to strapping on the device. And as patients, we sometimes feel “rude” by asking for the time to “breathe normally” and relax.
If your BP is normal they do not make money. High BP means business for the Docs. That 5 min rest could result in loss of business.
Doing your own research is all to often your best protection from our present medical system. Years ago, as a distance runner doing 45 miles per week, I was diagnosed with high BP. They wanted me to take medications. I did my research and my own BP testing at local pharmacies. I tested out 120/78 consistently as an average of five (5) results. I still keep track as part of an overall fitness regime.
I think it is not true that doctor get business by telling wrong to patient.You can relax in waiting area and enter doctor’s chamber after 5-10 minutes.
I think you have to relax the five minutes rest anywhere at the doctor’s clinic.
Experts have advi9ed to take three readings using a electronic BP monitor-take average of the last two readings./This may be most approximate Bp at the time of Measurement
Not only do they not allow even a brief time to “rest”, they often insist on talking & asking questions while they’re taking my bp & want to use my right arm instead of the left (even though it’s easily accessible). No wonder we get “white coat” readings!
This has been my experience as well and I find it unprofessional! I had to tell the nurse that I didn’t want to talk while my BP was being taken!! Also, I found that at times my arm was not supported and I had the added stress of holding my arm up as well. I spoke to the doctor about this. I don’t know if it made any difference for future patients.
I usually do my 5 minute deep breathing routine prior to going into back office for BP reading. I also insist that my arm is elevated (horizontal with heartt) not hanging vertically. These simple tests help overcome white coat effect and result in readings up to 20 points lower.
..how come when I hold my breath my BP readings are usually very low???
I have found a controlled exhale (maintaining a consistant force for about a minute) has a lowering affect on BP. How does this impact BP?
Thank you
I need info on punctures to the feet. I stepped on a needle close to 5 inches long which was at least 2 inches in my right foot near the second toe. I have pain constantly, stabbing pain intermittently, and overall discomfort when walking. All this has my body out of line and legs hurt more than ever before. I am fairly active and have had several surgeries to correct this issue, without long term success. Can you help please?
aT THE END OF THE DAY YOUR PRESSURE WILL BE LOWER.
also, so very often, the cuff is not at heart level…. nor is the arm properly supported.. when I see them doing this, I feel like my blood pressure is rising due to my perception of their breaking of correct measurement protocall..
I don’t know. We live too long, worry too much and think drugs and MD’s are or saviours!
I found that I have a white collar syndrom and had to take medication for a while but then stopped. Is it true that i”ll always be on medication. I try to be less stressed out and eat right.Help.
Hello , I am senior and over the years I have found that knowledge is the best medicine. In my opinion if your BP is high in the docs office research and buy yourself a good BP home machine and bring it to your next docs appointment and compare readings . If close then you can monitor your own BP at home and you will be be surprised at the difference. I do this along with taking liscinipril I started at 30 mg and am down to 10mg with the expectation of getting off the drug completely the reason being that I purchased resperate four months ago and was surprised as anyone that it works I thought it was just a gimmic to make money and I would be sending it back after the trial period . I am a beleiver and as they say “the proof is in the pudding” Good Luck TOM
The same things in the above notes happen to me also. However, my Dr. spends a few minutes to chat then he retakes my BP and it is usually lower than the first rushed reading. He also knows I have a hard time with medication as even a very low dose of beta blocker made me dizzy. So I have to manage my BP the hard way. My home readings are usaually OK but I really need to work on lowering it as it wants to be higher on account of genetics. Losing weight has not been all that helpful but at least I feel better at a lower weight and maybe that’ll eventually lowere the BP too.
Eating or drinking cane juice will increase your blood pressure.
I took about 5 very deep breaths and my blood pressure was very high. Can it have the reverse affect?
Gee, your doctor doesn’t give you 5 minutes to relax? I get to “relax” for 45-50 minutes in the waiting room, and then another 10-15 minutes after the nurse weighed me and took my BP. And this seems to be par for the course for most patients in the town I live in.
Of course, waiting that long does aggravate me, so I’m not relaxing very well. After an hour’s wait, I get 2-3 minutes of the doctor’s time. I’d love to get another doctor, but we have very few GPs here, and the rest are “not taking new patients.” Because of this, I feel I have to be in serious discomfort to make an appointment to see her.
And some jokers say we have the “best healthcare system in the world,” and I say they ought to do a little traveling before making a statement like that.
I have discovered the causes of my occasional high BP.
Any stressful relationship issues are what elevates my BP regardless of how long I have been sitting quietly thinking about it! The most stressful relationship in my life right now is with my DR. 3 years ago he was pushing more and more BP meds on me in response to his artificially high readings in his office. These meds, after 4 years had come within a “hair” of completly shutting down my kidneys. I would not have survived another month. He would not back off on the meds. I escaped this “death grip” Only because the heart and Stroke foundation blew the whistle on the deadly combo. I cut my meds in half. The Dr was furious, but I am healthy again:) so I don’t really give a damn if he is happy or not. Since that time now I am even more stressed every time I visit and I get high readings in that office every time. So it seems the simple solution is to avoid that office and monitor my BP and my meds in a way that will keep me healthy. Which is working very well thank you:)