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330 points wglb | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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crazygringo ◴[] No.41841006[source]
There's definitely a huge variance in blood pressure readings depending on posture, relaxation, arm position, recent activity, etc. If you buy a blood pressure monitor, it's really interesting to see how "random" a single reading at the doctors' is, and how large your fluctuation throughout the day is.

That being said, it really makes me wonder about studies that correlate blood pressure with other things. Is the blood pressure really being measured "correctly" in all those studies? Or not?

In other words, if your "true correct" blood pressure is lower than what the doctor normally takes, but then a lot of the studies are based on real-life "incorrect" higher blood pressures, then don't you similarly want an "incorrect" higher reading for consistency? Or are the studies always really done with far more accurate blood pressure readings, where the patient sits still for 5 min beforehand, keeps their legs uncrossed, is totally free of stress and anxiety, didn't exercise beforehand, etc.?

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1. lysace ◴[] No.41842242[source]
I found that that the measured BP was consistently significantly lower if I didn't look at the device's display while it was doing it's thing. This at home, with a quality device, after doing it many many times.
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2. kyleee ◴[] No.41843095[source]
Yes, i experiment with eyes open/closed as well