Never Take Your Blood Pressure Right After Doing These 5 Things

A blood pressure reading can change your day. One high number, and all of a sudden, your doctor is talking about medicines, lifestyle changes, and follow-ups. 

But what if the number was wrong?

Many people get inaccurate readings. Most of the time, it’s what they did moments before the test. Here are 5 errors that can skew your blood pressure numbers.

5 Things That Can Skew Your Numbers

Here are five things that can impact your blood pressure reading:

• Drinking Coffee: The caffeine in coffee can raise your blood pressure by up to 10 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) within an hour of drinking it. Stay away from anything caffeinated. That includes soda, energy drinks, and tea. If you’ve ingested any, wait for at least 30 minutes before you take a blood pressure reading. 
• Smoking: One cigarette can increase your heart rate for up to 30 minutes after you take it. Nicotine makes your heart beat faster. This tightens the blood vessels, raising the body’s blood pressure. 
• Exercise: It makes you sweat and gets your heart pumping. That’s great from a fitness perspective. But don’t do exercise before a blood pressure reading because it can raise your numbers. If you have exercised, wait at least 30 minutes before you wrap the cuff around your arm. 
• A Full Bladder: This can impact a blood pressure reading. The American Heart Association says it can raise your blood pressure by up to 33 mmHg. Make sure you use the bathroom before a blood pressure reading. 
• Eating a Big Meal: When you eat, your body sends blood down to your stomach so it can help with digestion. This process can throw off your numbers. Wait for at least 30 minutes after a meal before doing a reading.

Why Accuracy Is Important

The CDC says that almost half of US adults have high blood pressure. Doctors use your numbers to prescribe medicine or diet changes. 

A wrong figure could mean that you get medicines you don’t need. Or it could hide an issue that should’ve been caught early.

How to Get It Right

Avoiding those five mistakes helps. But how you sit and set up is also important.

Sit with your back flat against a support (wall or chair). Your feet should remain on the ground and don’t cross your legs. Put your arm on the table so that the cuff and your heart are at the same height. Then sit quietly for about five minutes before you start. Don’t say anything during the reading either.

After your first reading, take a second one after a minute and go with the average from both. This results in a more accurate number than a single reading.

FAQs

Does stress affect your blood pressure reading?

Yes. If you’re feeling stressed, sit in one place for 5 minutes and breathe slowly before your check.

Can you take your blood pressure right after waking up?

Not right away. Use the bathroom and sit still for a while. After that, put the cuff on and take the reading.