BALTIMORE, MD – October 7, 2024 – Did you know that holding your arm in a certain position may make a difference in your blood pressure measurement? Common arm positions during routine blood pressure checks can cause a significant increase in blood pressure reading. Therefore, blood pressure readings might not be accurate unless the arm is in the correct position to take a measurement.
In a recent study published on October 7, 2024, in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine, blood pressure readings were obtained while people held their arms in 3 different positions. The arm was leaning on a surface, resting on the lap or hanging by the side of the body while the blood pressure was taken. The study found that the most accurate measurement was obtained by having the arm rest on a surface near heart level. Holding your arm in your lap or by your side, lower than the heart, can result in a higher systolic number. The higher number, known as the systolic pressure, is the amount of pressure in a person’s arteries when the heart contracts and propels blood throughout the body.
The study was performed at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 133 adults had their blood pressure measured in each of the 3 arm positions.
Health care providers and patients will be able to measure more accurate blood pressures and avoid false diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. These findings are supported by the American Heart Association.
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]
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