Named a common mistake that people make when measuring blood pressure

Cardiologist reveals secrets of accurate blood pressure measurement: three mistakes that can cost you your health

Measuring blood pressure seems like a simple procedure, however, most people make critical mistakes that distort the results. Well-known cardiologist Dmitry Leskov shared important observations about typical patient misconceptions.

One of the most common is measuring blood pressure only when feeling unwell, for example, during a headache or feeling of heaviness in the chest.

"In such situations, blood pressure is indeed most often elevated," the doctor explained. "The person begins to urgently take a large number of medications to lower it, resulting in a sharp jump - from high pressure to too low. This can significantly increase the risk of stroke or heart attack."

The cardiologist recommends developing an individual blood pressure measurement schedule with your doctor to monitor it regularly, not just when your condition worsens.

The second common mistake is taking a single blood pressure measurement.

"The first measurement is often falsely elevated - due to anxiety, incorrect body position, noise in the room, or errors when applying the cuff," Leskov noted. "Therefore, according to modern recommendations, blood pressure should be measured three times with intervals of 1-2 minutes. The first result is discarded, and the average value is calculated from the second and third."

It is also important to measure blood pressure on both arms, the doctor emphasizes.

"This helps to timely identify vascular pathologies. The difference in readings may indicate the presence of atherosclerotic changes or external compression of blood vessels," added the cardiologist.

Finally, Leskov reminded that when using a blood pressure monitor, it is important to correctly select the cuff size - the accuracy of the measurement directly depends on this.

Source: health.sb.by