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Blood Pressure
Waiting to Test Blood Pressure Yields More Accurate Results
According to a new study, systolic blood pressure can be an average of 14 points higher when taken immediately after arriving in the exam room and sitting on an examination table rather than sitting in a chair with your back supported and feet flat on the floor. In fact, all study participants had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements when seated in a chair versus the exam table.
With a desirable blood pressure reading around 120/80, and the American Heart Association's definition of hypertension as 140/90 or greater on two consecutive tests, a 14-point difference can mean the difference between a clean bill of health and an inaccurate diagnosis.
In the first study of its kind conducted by nurses, the group found that taking a blood pressure reading in a chair after at least five minutes of waiting provided more accurate results than the traditional approach. Turner's team even factored in anxiety when seeing a doctor, or the "white coat syndrome" into their research. White coats did not result in any statistically significant differences as compared with health care personnel wearing scrubs or street clothes.
The American Heart Association estimates that nearly one-third of Americans have high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke, stiffness of the heart over time, and an enlarged heart if untreated.
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