In the U.S. 1 in every 3 adults reportedly has hypertension (high blood pressure) and many people are unaware of the fact that they have the condition. When hypertension goes untreated it can be a ticking time bomb, particularly for those who have accompanying diabetes and high cholesterol. If you are a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who is getting tested for high blood pressure, you may be interested in learning about a recent report from a Harvard Health publication on the accuracy of blood pressure readings.
Alterations in various factors such as the position of the arm and other factors can alter proper blood pressure readings by 10% or more. A recent Harvard Health online publication says this 10% alteration in blood pressure reading results “could be enough to hide high blood pressure, start you on a drug you don’t really need, or lead your doctor to incorrectly adjust your medications.”
10 Tips for an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading
Harvard Health published the guidelines on proper blood pressure procedure enacted by national and international guidelines and encourages readers to speak up if they notice a healthcare provider is not performing the procedure as per the following guidelines:
-Avoid caffeinated beverages and smoking at least 30 minutes before the test.
-Sit still with no activity for five minutes before the blood pressure reading is taken.
-During the measurement, sit in a chair with your feet on the floor and your arm supported.
-Keep your elbow is at about heart level.
-The inflatable part of the cuff should cover at least 80% of your upper arm.
- The blood pressure cuff should be placed on bare skin, not over clothing.
-Avoid talking while the blood pressure is being measured.
-The blood pressure should be measured twice with a short break between readings.
-If the 2 readings vary by 5 points or more, it should be taken for a third time.
-The blood pressure should be taken in each arm because a 5 mm Hg difference has been noted in studies.
A normal blood pressure reading should be between 160/100 mm Hg and 179/109 mm Hg. If the reading is 180/110 or higher, it calls for immediate medical intervention. Otherwise, the physician will probably take a couple of subsequent readings during upcoming appointments to compare the readings to each other. This is because blood pressure rates normally fluctuate and it is common that the anxiety of going to the doctor can induce higher than normal readings.
If your healthcare provider suspects orthostatic hypotension (a condition that results in light headedness upon arising as the blood pressure drops suddenly when getting up from a lying or sitting position), your physician will most likely take the blood pressure reading while sitting and then again immediately after standing up to see if it plummets due to the change in position.
In general, normal readings should prompt the healthcare provider to reschedule for an annual check, but if the blood pressure is high, it should be checked again in 2 to 4 weeks (depending on the reading).
To learn more about AD, check out our free courses on AD caregiving and AD prevention & treatment ClICK HERE
