Q: Wrist cuffs vs bicep cuff…which is most accurate?
A: The gold standard for taking blood pressure is the arm cuff. With proper technique both cuffs provide an accurate reading. It is important to follow the directions that come with the cuff. In my opinion, arm cuffs are easier to use because positioning is so important to get an accurate reading. To learn about different features of blood pressure monitors go to this page on ConsumerReports.org.
See a video from Harvard Health on the best way to measure blood
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(6 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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My dentist has a rule to take patients blood pressure before he works on the teeth.He uses the wrist cuff however they don’t know what they are doing. My blood pressure is always high when he takes it because I am upset about somebody puting their paws in my mouth.I made him mad the last time as I told him he ought to stick with denistry and leave my blood pressure to my doctor. Here i am laid back in a chair with my feet in the air and they slap a wrist cuff on me and expect to get an accurate reading.When taking at the dentist my blood pressure is 165/80. The last time at the doctors it was 130/76. At home it is 127/75-130/80. I asked them not to take my blood pressure at the dentist because the extra worry makes it go even higher,but they ignore my wishes.
You got that right Jerry. I agree with you, BP treatment and monitoring should be left up to one’s physician. I never get a normal reading at the doctor or dentist as I to suffer from White Coat. I thought the meds would prevent this but they don’t, my BP still rises. As far as the wrist monitors go, some are accurate and some are not. I have one i use for travel that tracks about + or – 5 points from my upper arm cuff. That’s good enough in my book.
The “White Coat Syndrome” extends to the dentist’s office as well as your physicians (even though your dentist might not be wearing a white coat.
My blood pressure jumps up and down no matter who takes it or where its taken. Causes concern for all the doctors and just about gives me a nervous breakdown. I’m 85 with heart disease and have several stents and had open heart surgery -Could it be my health making it go up and down? I’m only on 50mg of Atenolol as I have bad side effects from a dozen of B/p meds.
I had a wrist monitor and the readings were more or less similar to the arm monitor. I mean, BP fluctuates throughout the day anyhow, so it may be impossible to really say which one is more accurate. If the average readings are similar, than it may be ‘accurate’. And then there are people who say that the ‘real’ BP may be up to 10% more or less and it is irrelevant whether the reading is 141/89 (i.e. to be treated) or 139/79 and still be just under the ‘needs to be treated’ figures. Since I stopped taking my BP at home on a regular basis my BP at the doctor’s has actually come down and is ‘below treatment’ level. Go figure.
Its great to hear Ms. Mary Danescu is 85, and going great (sharing the experience). I suggest rather not too much worry after dozens of different B/p meds.
I checked out my wrist BP reader with my doctor’s nurse and found they were the same reading. Placing the arm cuff properly is always a challange but with the wrist cuff it is easily to do.