This common mistake can add nearly 7 points to your blood pressure reading

A common mistake during blood pressure checks could make readings appear substantially higher than they really are. Johns Hopkins researchers found that leaving the arm unsupported can raise systolic readings by about 6.5 mmHg, potentially affecting a hypertension diagnosis. This common mistake can add nearly 7 points to your blood pressure reading.

This common mistake can add nearly 7 points to your blood pressure reading Science News from research organizations This common mistake can add nearly 7 points to your blood pressure reading Something as simple as where you rest your arm could make your blood pressure reading look dangerously higher than it really is. Common arm positions used during screenings may make blood pressure appear higher than it actually is, potentially contributing to an incorrect diagnosis of hypertension. In a report on the study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers compared three arm positions: an arm supported on a desk, an arm supported on a lap, and an unsupported arm hanging at the patient’s side.

They found that resting the arm on the lap increased systolic pressure (the top number in a BP reading) by nearly 4 mmHg, while allowing the arm to hang unsupported at the side increased systolic pressure by nearly 7 mmHg. Arm position can make a major difference The results show that arm position makes a "huge difference" in obtaining an accurate blood pressure measurement, according to Tammy Brady, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair for clinical research in the Department of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, medical director of the pediatric hypertension program at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, deputy director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research and senior author of the study. The researchers say the findings reinforce clinical recommendations that call for the patient’s arm to be firmly supported on a desk or another surface during blood pressure measurement.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of U.S.