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Post by SAR01 on Oct 12, 2024 10:56:01 GMT -5
October 12, 2024
Blood Pressure Accuracy Hinges on Arm Position
If you're checking your blood pressure at home or at a clinic, paying attention to arm position is crucial. A new study from Johns Hopkins reveals that improper arm positioning can lead to inaccurate readings, and both patients and healthcare providers need to be more mindful of this detail.
According to Dr. Tammy Brady, senior study author and vice chair for clinical research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, "Patients need to advocate for themselves when measuring blood pressure (BP) at home or in the clinic."
Blood pressure is a key indicator of cardiovascular health, and nearly half of U.S. adults have elevated levels, according to the American
Association (AHA). High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high, which increases the risk of serious health issues like stroke or attack.
The Johns Hopkins study examined the effects of three different arm positions when measuring blood pressure: resting the arm on a desk, resting the arm on the lap, and letting the arm hang at the side. It found that improper arm positioning can significantly alter systolic blood pressure readings (the upper number in BP readings). Resting the arm on the lap overestimated systolic pressure by 4 mmHg, while letting the arm hang by the side resulted in an overestimation of nearly 7 mmHg.
Systolic pressure measures the force of blood against the arteries when the beats, and even small differences can impact a hypertension diagnosis. According to AHA guidelines, the proper way to measure BP involves using an appropriately sized cuff, keeping the back supported, feet flat on the floor, and ensuring the arm is positioned at mid- level on a desk or table for support. Unfortunately, many clinicians overlook these steps, leading to potential inaccuracies.
For the study, researchers recruited 133 participants between the ages of 18 and 80. Each participant's blood pressure was measured using three different arm positions, with the key findings showing that the desk-supported position produced the most accurate readings, as recommended by the AHA.
The study also found that laps or unsupported arms gave falsely elevated readings. For example, if an unsupported arm yields a reading 6.5 mmHg higher than it should be, it could shift a patient's BP from 123 to 130 or from 133 to 140-moving from normal to a possible stage 2 hypertension diagnosis.
Sherry Liu, a co-author and epidemiology research coordinator at Johns Hopkins, highlighted how critical these small differences are: "If blood pressure is measured incorrectly, it could lead to unnecessary treatments or a missed diagnosis of high BP."
The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, emphasize the need for clinicians to adhere to AHA guidelines to ensure accuracy and better patient outcomes. Even with home BP monitors, it's important to use correct techniques to avoid misleading readings.
www.gopher-news.com/Healthy_Living?i=Can_Improper_Arm_Position_Skew_Blood_Pressure_Readings&sid=49526659
Blood Pressure Accuracy Hinges on Arm Position
If you're checking your blood pressure at home or at a clinic, paying attention to arm position is crucial. A new study from Johns Hopkins reveals that improper arm positioning can lead to inaccurate readings, and both patients and healthcare providers need to be more mindful of this detail.
According to Dr. Tammy Brady, senior study author and vice chair for clinical research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, "Patients need to advocate for themselves when measuring blood pressure (BP) at home or in the clinic."
Blood pressure is a key indicator of cardiovascular health, and nearly half of U.S. adults have elevated levels, according to the American
Association (AHA). High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high, which increases the risk of serious health issues like stroke or attack.The Johns Hopkins study examined the effects of three different arm positions when measuring blood pressure: resting the arm on a desk, resting the arm on the lap, and letting the arm hang at the side. It found that improper arm positioning can significantly alter systolic blood pressure readings (the upper number in BP readings). Resting the arm on the lap overestimated systolic pressure by 4 mmHg, while letting the arm hang by the side resulted in an overestimation of nearly 7 mmHg.
Systolic pressure measures the force of blood against the arteries when the
beats, and even small differences can impact a hypertension diagnosis. According to AHA guidelines, the proper way to measure BP involves using an appropriately sized cuff, keeping the back supported, feet flat on the floor, and ensuring the arm is positioned at mid- level on a desk or table for support. Unfortunately, many clinicians overlook these steps, leading to potential inaccuracies.For the study, researchers recruited 133 participants between the ages of 18 and 80. Each participant's blood pressure was measured using three different arm positions, with the key findings showing that the desk-supported position produced the most accurate readings, as recommended by the AHA.
The study also found that laps or unsupported arms gave falsely elevated readings. For example, if an unsupported arm yields a reading 6.5 mmHg higher than it should be, it could shift a patient's BP from 123 to 130 or from 133 to 140-moving from normal to a possible stage 2 hypertension diagnosis.
Sherry Liu, a co-author and epidemiology research coordinator at Johns Hopkins, highlighted how critical these small differences are: "If blood pressure is measured incorrectly, it could lead to unnecessary treatments or a missed diagnosis of high BP."
The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, emphasize the need for clinicians to adhere to AHA guidelines to ensure accuracy and better patient outcomes. Even with home BP monitors, it's important to use correct techniques to avoid misleading readings.
www.gopher-news.com/Healthy_Living?i=Can_Improper_Arm_Position_Skew_Blood_Pressure_Readings&sid=49526659