Blood Pressure Measurement

Question: Blood pressure measurements?

(Posted by: robwolf666 on 2009-07-07 16:49:24)

What is the best time of day to take a blood pressure reading? Is it 'normal' for blood pressure to vary widely over just a few hours between readings? (At the moment mine is behaving a bit oddly - e.g. a couple of hours after exercise it can be as low as 120/ 75+ yet just a few hours later it can be as high as 140/ 90+)

Posted by: kid on the block on 2009-07-08, 01:20:59

Yes, your blood pressure varies all the time. I check mine straight after I get up and have been to the loo. I know that stress sends mine all over the place (I can suffer from 'white coat syndrome' too which is why I have started checking my own), Caffeine will alter it, hydration will alter it, exercise will alter it etc etc. Even which arm you use can matter in some people, my right arm gives lower readings than my left.

Posted by: Jenny on 2009-07-07, 20:12:17

Sure, your blood vessels and the rest of your cardiovascular system are always adjusting to whatever you are going through at the particular moment. If you are exercising, the pressure goes up to get oxygen and nutrients to where they need to go, faster. If you are relaxed and watching TV, the pressure goes down, the body doesn't have to work as hard to do what it needs to. Pressure can also go up in response to pain, stress, emotion, food, etc. I'm not sure about a particular time of day that it is best to take a BP, but you would want to be in a fairly calm state, not just running in from bungee jumping or something! What you would want to watch for over time is that if you were getting consistently high readings, even when feeling pretty calm, you may be heading towards some cardiovascular disease, But that is with at least three or four consistently high readings. One or two high readings, with normal ones in between, are most likely fine. If you are worried, go see your friendly neighborhood doc! :)