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330 points wglb | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.216s | 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. wonnage ◴[] No.41844009[source]
Kaiser measures BP on every visit and arm position seems like the least of their worries:

- no rest period before measurement

- measured through a medium-thickness sweatshirt sleeve

- cold hospital hallway

- no back on the chair

- no height adjustment on the chair

- no real surface to rest your arm on (They usually use the handle of the equipment cart that the BP monitor is mounted to)

- Zero attention to cuff positioning/orientation

I've come in at 160/90 but went down to 120/80 after rotating the cuff 1-2cm and resting for a few minutes. Manual measurements from the doctor are usually more accurate.