Commonly used arm positions can overestimate blood pressure readings: study

Quite a few people here report getting anxious even when taking their BP themselves:

https://www.innerhealthstudio.com/phobia-taking-blood-pressu...

I'm one of them. I bought a device with memory and covered the screen with a piece of card. Then I take BP for two weeks and ignore the first few days' readings. I seem to get used to it after a few days. This gets me readings that are very close to 120/80.

I've had anxiety about blood pressure ever since running for an appointment, while being on the first day of a new job when I was really amped up, and so (of course) had a dangerously high reading. I still remember the guy's eyes widening as he looked at the screen. Ever since then I've hated having BP taken and I can feel my BP and pulse increasing the moment I step into a doctor's office. Fortunately my doctor understands and doesn't try to push pills on me.

I wish there were some way of measuring BP without knowing it's being done. The act of measurement can greatly affect the result, which is counter-productive in several ways (not the least of which is un-needed anxiety).

York Cardiologist on Youtube is good on BP, and why apparently high BP should not automatically mean pills, although undoubtedly it sometimes should. (Usual disclaimer: this is not medical advice, ask your doctor about your specific situation.)

I remember when I was a kid, the doctor thought that my blood pressure was too high. Of course, I was just anxious because I knew they were going to give me a shot. What kid wouldn't be?? He took it again after I got the shot and it went back down to normal.

I spent several weeks trying to get a dental procedure, where the dentist flat out refused treatment because my BP was high, and every subsequent rescheduling was higher and higher and higher every time. Got a note from my PCP - my dentist still wouldn't do my crown, and was insisting that my PCP do a full screening and review. My dr just gave me some xanax to take before going to the dentist, and never had a problem since. Recently moved, and just straight up asked if I can sign a waiver or something for them to not take my BP at the dentist - new dentist was like "no problem"

Yeah I'm one of them. I developed a full-on anxiety disorder after my diagnosis with high BP to the point where I would get panic attacks just sitting in front of the device.

At the same time I would became obsessed with measuring BP and pulse...

My current solution besides anti-depressants and therapy is just ignoring it and trust in the pills from the doctor.

Right now I'm thinking about trying something like the Aktiia wearable to get some measurements without me knowing...

> My current solution besides anti-depressants and therapy is just ignoring it and trust in the pills from the doctor.

Look up ERP (exposure and response prevention) therapy, then apply it to your fear of BP. I did that, it helped a lot.

I take BP readings for someone who gets anxious about them too. The system we've arrived at is that I play music that relaxes them during the readings. They don't look at the numbers. The first one will be high, so I usually ignore it. I take several readings, look for a couple of consistent ones, then discard any outliers.

Trying to relax always makes me more anxious since it reinforces the idea that there's a danger to be avoided. Over time I've learned the techniques of ERP, which basically does the opposite.

Try the 4-7-8 Breathing technique while you are traveling to and right before you take the reading. Also just focus on something else like counting things on the wall while they take it. Mine has been high when I take it at the Dr office. But at home fine. I think tried the 4-7-8 Breathing technique this last time and it read normal at the dr office.

Replying to my own comment, but it looks like there's at least one device on the market that measures BP without the wearer knowing it's being done, the Aktiia Optical Blood Pressure Monitor.

Cost about $250-300. It's not available in the US right now officially, though it's cleared in several European countries. I don't know if it's legal to import. If it is, I may well do so.

Regrettably it has a cloud connection.