Question:
This post not CC’d by email >I don’t currently take any BP readings unless for some reason I think it >might be out of whack. I’ve had slightly high BP since my mid 20’s. It >seems to be very well controlled with medication and my current Dr. sees no >reason for me to monitor it at home on a regular basis. This was not always >so. When I was going to the military facility in Cape Cod, the Dr. I saw >wanted me to keep a log of my BP readings. He suggested twice daily random >readings, but I often did more readings just for the heck of it. Had a lot >of time on my hands and there’s not much to do in Cape Cod, especially in >the winter! *L*
G’day G’day Julie, The seasons of our lives, eh? >What I learned is that I could take reading after reading repeatedly, and >get entirely different numbers. I also learned that I almost always got >lower readings at home. Usually low enough to be well below normal. But I >also studied up on taking the readings and when I did them at home, I did >everything the way it is supposed to be done. For one thing, I made sure to >get a cuff that was large enough to fit well around my upper arm. If the >cuff is too small (or too large) you’ll get a false reading. I can’t tell >you how many times I’ve been to a new Dr. and they’ve used the standard cuff >on me. They will then get a funny look on their face, then go get the >larger cuff. They always get a better reading then. My arms are not fat, >but they are very muscular and for that reason, I need the larger cuff. >Other things that can affect your reading are talking, eating, drinking, and >activity. It’s best not to have anything to eat or drink immediately before >taking a reading and to sit still for 5 minutes before taking a reading.
The pamphlet suggests it is a bad idea to take a reading when one needs to go for a pee. Very understandable. >Take good deep breaths while doing the reading. I’ve found that shallow >breaths or holding your breath can give you a higher reading. This is one >reason why my readings are always higher at the Drs. office. I hate having >that cuff squeezing my arm. I’m fine to do it to myself, but I dislike >having anyone else do it to me. I get sort of panicky. I think this is >because I once had a nurse pump the cuff up on my arm, then leave the room >to talk on the phone to her boyfriend. She left me like that for about 5 >minutes. I was much younger then and didn’t know what to do. I thought if >I took the cuff off I might break it or something, so I sat there suffering >and seething. Needless to say, my reading was quite high then!
It sure makes a difference getting the right nurse or getting one on a good day. >And at one point, my eye Dr. feared I had glaucoma. They had gotten a new >machine at their office that puffs air into the center of your eye to check >the pressure. The person doing it wasn’t doing it right. If done right, it >doesn’t hurt. But she kept missing the center of my eye and that not only >hurt, but dried my eyes out. I was so tense from that they couldn’t get a >decent reading. The Dr. then did an experiment. He tested my BP using an >arm cuff. It was normal. He then seated me at the machine and tested it >again. It went WAY high! He also did the old fashioned glaucoma test where >the eye is numbed with cocaine and a needle is inserted to check the >pressure. No glaucoma.
Good thing the doctor had the smarts to figure out what might have been happening, the embedded strategy to test out his hypothesis and achieve the desired result by an alternative route. >Also, when I was going to the Dr. in Cape Cod, they guy who often did the BP >tests was really chatty. He was a really nice guy and had just come from >the area where I grew up. So he would strike up a conversation with me >about the Seattle area. This was nice, but I would get excited in talking >to him, and my BP would go up. I kept telling him that it’s best not to >talk during a reading and that I feared that our conversations were giving >me higher readings. So he agreed that the next time I came in, he would let >someone else do my BP. Sure enough, I got a decent reading.
Conversation with the dogs is a bit limited. <grin> >So while I know all these things, it does pose some questions in my mind. >Most of us do not spend our days sitting around breathing deeply and doing >nothing. We have conversations. We get excited. We get tense and stressed >out. We eat, exercise, etc. In fact, we probably spend most of our day >doing those things instead of sitting around attempting to relax. So it >almost seems better to me to go for a random reading without all the prep >stuff.
My thoughts go along similar lines. The situation seems roughly analogous to fasting blood glucose and post prandial testing. At one time doctors were only interested in fasting blood glucose. Then someone pursued the idea that peak values after meals (1 hour) and recovery after meals (2 hour) might be important. Of course a lot of literature was generated along the way. Another analogous situation might be homocysteine testing. There are two forms fasting and methionine challenge testing. The challenge testing is twice as like to predict future problems. >Another thing I’ve been told is that some people have a problem with BP that >relates to sitting, standing or lying down. Their BP might be fine for most >of the day, but might go too high or too low when changing positions. For >that reason, it’s a good idea to take occasional tests in different >positions and immediately after changing positions. >– >Type 2 >http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/
Thanks Julie, For interest sake I may look at post exercise states to see if biofeedback is applicable. — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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This post not CC’d by email >I’m not going to read all the responses but maybe others have said >what I’ll say. >I would think the best way would be to take 3 measurements and use the >median value. (not the average) That helps with blips in >experimental error
Thanks Marco. The median is certainly simple to discover. — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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This post not CC’d by email >Hi Quentin, >Considerable swings in BP during the day and night are normal. A pain >attack, fear, scare, intercourse can spike BP to over 160 mmHG. When relaxed >and sleeping it can go down to 60. Diastolic can go to 30 during sleep. >I measure BP first thing every morning, together with BG and weight and keep >records, of course. Every month I average the BP( 120/65). >I measure once, sitting down, left arm supported at heart level, both feet >flat on the ground and as relaxed as possible. >That’s what the doc told me to do.
G’day G’day Fred, That sounds reasonable. >When I go for a check up, at the sight of a white coat, systolic BP goes to >140-150, but diastolic remains around 60-70.
I am going to run courses on curing white coat phobia one day. Looks like a money spinner. <grin. >In May and June I had a very stressful time. Then my BP was 140-150-160 in >the morning. >Contrary to what I’ve read, I can tell most of the time when my BP is >elevated. By concentrating and relaxing I can lower my BP. It takes about >two minutes. I could not do it when I was stressed out in May and June. >When I’m at the doctors they measure so quickly that I don’t have chance to >get in a comfortable position and relax. Consequently, the nurse tells me I >have elevated BP. To the doctor I show my tables and all gets settled.
Way to go. For me the most important thing may be to have a routine for inducing the relaxation response throughout the day. The body isn’t going to be affected by what happens with testing at the doctors, the time period is too short to be significant. >Good luck >Fred Henzi
– Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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This post not CC’d by email >I take my blood pressure at the free machines sited in many U.S. >department stores. I stop for a bit while shopping and test. > AFAIK, the criteria for a meaningful b.p. test is a "relaxed", >"resting" test with the sensor at heart level. I think I once read >that the patient should sit quietly for 10 minutes before taking the >test. > I find that running around the store does not relax or rest me. My >first reading will be high, usually 140-145, then successive readings >will decay to some constant value. (My low-dose ARB seems to be >holding me between 110 and 120.)
LOL G’day G’day Al, You can take the engineer out of the engineering but you can’t the engineering out of the engineer. I had this mental picture of you drawing a decay curve and calculating the various decay constants. >Thus, I sit at the machine repeating the test until it seems to have >decayed to some stable value. Sometimes that calls for 3 tests, >sometimes 5 or more. > I also find that low blood sugar elevates b.p.
Now that is interesting. Sort of makes sense. Not enough blood glucose getting to the brain … rev up the blood pressure. >I try to schedule a >b.p. test for normal to high bG. This relationship is sometimes >humorous in that an anomalous b.p. is sometimes my first warning of a >dropping bG.
Ah so there IS feedback. <grin> > I have heard that the lie-down then sit-up/stand-up b.p. ratio is an >indicator of vascular/arterial health. Unfortunately, I don’t trust >the sites I have found so far and I haven’t looked too hard for a >reputable site. If I ever break down and buy a home testing machine, >I probably will get serious about such tests.
Hope you never break down or up for that matter. >Regards > Old Al (Insulin injector who often experiences bG lower than >comfortable)
Best wishes and thanks. I always look forward to your replies. — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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: Hi : I am a participant in the Anglo Scandinavian Coronary Outcomes Trial : (ASCOT). When I go to the centre for my 6 monthly checks they take my BP 3 : times and average the results. : Douglas Three times, one right after the other or at three different times during the examination? I ask, because I have been told not to test twice on the same arm right after each other as I will give a lower reading on the second est because of something that hapens to the arteries. Sorry, I don’t remember what the something is Wendy
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Hi I am a participant in the Anglo Scandinavian Coronary Outcomes Trial (ASCOT). When I go to the centre for my 6 monthly checks they take my BP 3 times and average the results. Douglas
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> G’day G’day Folks, > Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little > challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures > one already knows the answer in another context or other people have > solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. > OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a > solution. > When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of > three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what > one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose > from something like mistiming the puff. > Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? > Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? > OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. > For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, > 1. How many readings do you take at one session? > 2. Which one, if any, do you record? > 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? > Thanks, > — > Quentin Grady ^ ^ / > New Zealand, >#,#< [ > / / > "… and the blind dog was leading." > http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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I’m not going to read all the responses but maybe others have said what I’ll say. I would think the best way would be to take 3 measurements and use the median value. (not the average) That helps with blips in experimental error – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >G’day G’day Folks, > Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little >challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures >one already knows the answer in another context or other people have >solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. >OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a >solution. >When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of >three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what >one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose >from something like mistiming the puff. >Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? >Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? >OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. >For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, >1. How many readings do you take at one session? >2. Which one, if any, do you record? >3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? >Thanks,
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Hello Quentin, I test to make sure that it is staying where it should be under certain conditions. Like I mentioned, I don’t do this all of the time. I just want to make sure it is not going really high if I am under more stress than normal. I usually just go by what the doctors readings are. I see him every 6 months. If my bp is within normal range when I go in for my appts., then I am fairly certain that I am ok as that is a stressful situation. The 120/70 is with meds. I have been taking a bp med for quite a few years now. Blood pressure varies so much, that I am not concerned with it unless it goes up under stressful situations and stays up. Best, Dot Type 2 Diag 8/2001 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -><When I check at home, I usually only check it in the mornings and the >evenings (once each time). I do not check it all of the time, but at >least once or twice a month I have a period of time where I keep tabs on it to make sure the bp med is still working (maybe 5 days in a row). I do record the readings and other specifics (under stress, sick, etc.). >I am probably not what you would consider a "regular" checker as I do >not check it everyday.> >G’day G’day Dot, > I reckon that is about the best strategy one can have. You do it >when you use the results to learn something from. Raw data by itself >is pretty pointless. Its changing behaviour in the right direction >that matter. ><My bp ususally runs around 120/70.> >Which leads me to wonder why you test. Is the 120/70 with meds? >Best wishes, >Best, >Dot >Type 2 Diag 8/2001
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This post not CC’d by email >He came in about 10 mins later, and tested me in sitting >position. >5. Told to lie down, tested again. >6. Told to stand on the floor, tested again.
G’day G’day Annette, Thanks for all the information. There has been research done that advocated comparing lying down and standing up value. The conclusion the researchers reached was that they could detect FUTURE high blood pressure risk. They were able to recognise people who would soon show up with high blood pressure with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Where I’d find the paper now I don’t know. Best wishes, — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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Hi Quentin, Considerable swings in BP during the day and night are normal. A pain attack, fear, scare, intercourse can spike BP to over 160 mmHG. When relaxed and sleeping it can go down to 60. Diastolic can go to 30 during sleep. I measure BP first thing every morning, together with BG and weight and keep records, of course. Every month I average the BP( 120/65). I measure once, sitting down, left arm supported at heart level, both feet flat on the ground and as relaxed as possible. That’s what the doc told me to do. When I go for a check up, at the sight of a white coat, systolic BP goes to 140-150, but diastolic remains around 60-70. In May and June I had a very stressful time. Then my BP was 140-150-160 in the morning. Contrary to what I’ve read, I can tell most of the time when my BP is elevated. By concentrating and relaxing I can lower my BP. It takes about two minutes. I could not do it when I was stressed out in May and June. When I’m at the doctors they measure so quickly that I don’t have chance to get in a comfortable position and relax. Consequently, the nurse tells me I have elevated BP. To the doctor I show my tables and all gets settled. Good luck Fred Henzi . – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? > Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? > OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. > For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, > 1. How many readings do you take at one session? > 2. Which one, if any, do you record? > 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? > Thanks, > — > Quentin Grady ^ ^ / > New Zealand, >#,#< [ > / / > "… and the blind dog was leading." > http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > G’day G’day Folks, > Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little > challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures > one already knows the answer in another context or other people have > solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. > OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a > solution. > When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of > three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what > one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose > from something like mistiming the puff. > Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? > Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? > OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. > For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, > 1. How many readings do you take at one session? > 2. Which one, if any, do you record? > 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? > Thanks,
I take my blood pressure at the free machines sited in many U.S. department stores. I stop for a bit while shopping and test. AFAIK, the criteria for a meaningful b.p. test is a "relaxed", "resting" test with the sensor at heart level. I think I once read that the patient should sit quietly for 10 minutes before taking the test. I find that running around the store does not relax or rest me. My first reading will be high, usually 140-145, then successive readings will decay to some constant value. (My low-dose ARB seems to be holding me between 110 and 120.) Thus, I sit at the machine repeating the test until it seems to have decayed to some stable value. Sometimes that calls for 3 tests, sometimes 5 or more. I also find that low blood sugar elevates b.p. I try to schedule a b.p. test for normal to high bG. This relationship is sometimes humorous in that an anomalous b.p. is sometimes my first warning of a dropping bG. I have heard that the lie-down then sit-up/stand-up b.p. ratio is an indicator of vascular/arterial health. Unfortunately, I don’t trust the sites I have found so far and I haven’t looked too hard for a reputable site. If I ever break down and buy a home testing machine, I probably will get serious about such tests. Regards Old Al (Insulin injector who often experiences bG lower than comfortable)
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> G’day G’day Folks, > Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little > challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures > one already knows the answer in another context or other people have > solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. > OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a > solution. > When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of > three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what > one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose > from something like mistiming the puff. > Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? > Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case?
Hi there Quentin, I don’t believe it is analogous. Or at least, other than that an extremely low or high reading would be considered significant. Because then either there is something wrong with the equipment/method of use, or there is something seriously wrong with the patient! I know this sounds obvious, but most doctors are pretty confidant about their equipment and it’s correct usage, because they are doing these test all the time, whereas with home testing one can’t be so sure. OTOH, for some conditions, the time of day, or other conditions at the time the test is done may be relevant. Most doctor’s tests are done during normal office hours through the day. One may be physically or emotionally stressed, just eaten, or relaxed and at ease. Certainly one is advised not to test with a full bladder! Tests at night or out-of-hours are not common unless one is hospitalised or seriously ill anyway. So home testing can reveal some interesting and significant readings that may not be detected otherwise. > OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. > For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, > 1. How many readings do you take at one session?
Usually only one, but sometimes twice, I do one and my husband does one. If the readings are pretty close, (and they usually are), then I have reasonable confidence in the accuracy. > 2. Which one, if any, do you record?
All readings, noting time of day and other factors. If there is a marked difference, I wait an hour and do another set. > 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? A check on the accuracy, especially in respect of the sensitivity of the machine, and my correct usage. Actually, after a while, as I became more experienced, I usually only did it once per session. Other earlier posts talked about things that can affect readings, like White Coat Syndrome, for example. FWIW, one medical site made a comment about that particular situation, and noted that if the reading is unacceptably high, it is still considered relevant, because it shows that BP can rise to dangerous levels if the person is stressed – NOT GOOD! I found it interesting that when I saw a cardio specialist, he tested my BP at 6 times during the course of the visit to his office. 1. Immediately on arrival (he instructed the nurse to do it). Then I waited some time before being called in. 2. Once I was seated in the office. 3. After chatting about my medical history, looking at test results etc (about 1/2 hr later). 4. Told to go into next room, remove top clothing etc, and sit on the examining table – he would be a little time, he said, so just relax. He came in about 10 mins later, and tested me in sitting position. 5. Told to lie down, tested again. 6. Told to stand on the floor, tested again. All readings were noted down without comment. I have no idea what conclusions or method of analysis were used. I now kind of wish I’d asked, but he seemed pretty pre-occupied, and I didn’t like to interrupt. He studied them for some time in silence, with no comment, before indicating what further tests he wanted me to undergo. At home, I used to test about 4 times a day, on first rising, mid-afternoon, early evening and late (around midnight). There was a consistant record of dangerously high readings from around 11.0 pm to 3 am. The rest of the time, readings were only "slightly" elevated, and although this wasn’t too good, and I WAS prescibed medicaion, there was no cause for alarm. Since I was also getting chest pain late at night, when I reported my results of the tests to my GP, he considered this serious enough to warrant immediate investigation, and referred me accordingly. Earlier complalnts re the chest pain alone had been ignored. I think that home testing is a bit like testing bg, trends and patterns over a period of time can reveal some interesting information. Either re-assurance that there is nothing seriously wrong, or there is something that should be investigated further. I hope this is some help by adding more anecdotal data to your file! Annette — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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This post not CC’d by email – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hello Quentin, >At the doctors office it is taken once by the nurse and most doctors >will take it again when you are in the room with him/her. The doctor >takes it again to see if it has gone "up" any. If it has, then that >means when you are stressed (most are when seeing the doctor) and that >your bp med may not be working that well. It means you have white coat >hypertension, which means that anytime you are stressed, your bp is >going up even when on meds. If it goes too high, they will usually end >up changing the particular med that you on. Most will give it at least >one more visit before they do that, though. At least this is what I >have found out. >When I check at home, I usually only check it in the mornings and the >evenings (once each time). I do not check it all of the time, but at >least once or twice a month I have a period of time where I keep tabs on >it to make sure the bp med is still working (maybe 5 days in a row). I >do record the readings and other specifics (under stress, sick, etc.). >I am probably not what you would consider a "regular" checker as I do >not check it everyday.
G’day G’day Dot, I reckon that is about the best strategy one can have. You do it when you use the results to learn something from. Raw data by itself is pretty pointless. Its changing behaviour in the right direction that matter. >My bp ususally runs around 120/70.
Which leads me to wonder why you test. Is the 120/70 with meds? Best wishes, >Best, >Dot >Type 2 Diag 8/2001
– Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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> IF you test both arms seriatum and there is a sicnificant difference betwen them, soemthing is wrong, possibly a blockage somewhere.
This is a good point. My brother-in-law was the first person I heard mention this. He always gets a higher reading on his right arm than his left. Let say you go to the doctor’s office and take your meter with you to try and test their comparability – yours on one arm and the doctors on the other. You really might not prove anything. Lada da da! 
Frank
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This post not CC’d by email > IF you test both arms seriatum and there is a sicnificant difference betwen them, soemthing is wrong, possibly a blockage somewhere. >This is a good point. My brother-in-law was the first person I heard >mention this. He always gets a higher reading on his right arm than his >left. >Let say you go to the doctor’s office and take your meter with you to >try and test their comparability – yours on one arm and the doctors on >the other. You really might not prove anything. Lada da da! >Frank
Oh Frank, you’re wicked. — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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This post not CC’d by email >Hi Quentin, >answer to your questions >1. I take one reading >2. not applicable >3. I like what I see and quit while I am ahead. >:-) >Loretta
ROTFL Great attitude. — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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Julie , W.Baker , Yeah , thats one thing that really can not be done on those free drug-store automatic BP test machines , they are only set-up for the Left arm , I believe tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > <snip> > IF you test both arms seriatum and there is a sicnificant difference > betwen them, soemthing is wrong, possibly a blockage somewhere. > Interesting. When I was pregnant, they used to get signifigantly different > readings from one side to the other. Can’t remember now which side was > which. Guess I should check that now and see if it’s still the same. > <snip>
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NO WAY would an eye-doctor get even the slightest chance to test me for glacoma the " old-fashioned " way !!! I would be RUNNING out the door for another DR. , IMMEDIATELY !!! tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> G’day G’day Folks, > Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little > challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures > one already knows the answer in another context or other people have > solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. > OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a > solution. > When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of > three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what > one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose > from something like mistiming the puff. > Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? > Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? > OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. > For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, > 1. How many readings do you take at one session? > 2. Which one, if any, do you record? > 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? > I don’t currently take any BP readings unless for some reason I think it > might be out of whack. I’ve had slightly high BP since my mid 20’s. It > seems to be very well controlled with medication and my current Dr. sees no > reason for me to monitor it at home on a regular basis. This was not always > so. When I was going to the military facility in Cape Cod, the Dr. I saw > wanted me to keep a log of my BP readings. He suggested twice daily random > readings, but I often did more readings just for the heck of it. Had a lot > of time on my hands and there’s not much to do in Cape Cod, especially in > the winter! *L* > What I learned is that I could take reading after reading repeatedly, and > get entirely different numbers. I also learned that I almost always got > lower readings at home. Usually low enough to be well below normal. But I > also studied up on taking the readings and when I did them at home, I did > everything the way it is supposed to be done. For one thing, I made sure to > get a cuff that was large enough to fit well around my upper arm. If the > cuff is too small (or too large) you’ll get a false reading. I can’t tell > you how many times I’ve been to a new Dr. and they’ve used the standard cuff > on me. They will then get a funny look on their face, then go get the > larger cuff. They always get a better reading then. My arms are not fat, > but they are very muscular and for that reason, I need the larger cuff. > Other things that can affect your reading are talking, eating, drinking, and > activity. It’s best not to have anything to eat or drink immediately before > taking a reading and to sit still for 5 minutes before taking a reading. > Take good deep breaths while doing the reading. I’ve found that shallow > breaths or holding your breath can give you a higher reading. This is one > reason why my readings are always higher at the Drs. office. I hate having > that cuff squeezing my arm. I’m fine to do it to myself, but I dislike > having anyone else do it to me. I get sort of panicky. I think this is > because I once had a nurse pump the cuff up on my arm, then leave the room > to talk on the phone to her boyfriend. She left me like that for about 5 > minutes. I was much younger then and didn’t know what to do. I thought if > I took the cuff off I might break it or something, so I sat there suffering > and seething. Needless to say, my reading was quite high then! > And at one point, my eye Dr. feared I had glaucoma. They had gotten a new > machine at their office that puffs air into the center of your eye to check > the pressure. The person doing it wasn’t doing it right. If done right, it > doesn’t hurt. But she kept missing the center of my eye and that not only > hurt, but dried my eyes out. I was so tense from that they couldn’t get a > decent reading. The Dr. then did an experiment. He tested my BP using an > arm cuff. It was normal. He then seated me at the machine and tested it > again. It went WAY high! He also did the old fashioned glaucoma test where > the eye is numbed with cocaine and a needle is inserted to check the > pressure. No glaucoma. > Also, when I was going to the Dr. in Cape Cod, they guy who often did the BP > tests was really chatty. He was a really nice guy and had just come from > the area where I grew up. So he would strike up a conversation with me > about the Seattle area. This was nice, but I would get excited in talking > to him, and my BP would go up. I kept telling him that it’s best not to > talk during a reading and that I feared that our conversations were giving > me higher readings. So he agreed that the next time I came in, he would let > someone else do my BP. Sure enough, I got a decent reading. > So while I know all these things, it does pose some questions in my mind. > Most of us do not spend our days sitting around breathing deeply and doing > nothing. We have conversations. We get excited. We get tense and stressed > out. We eat, exercise, etc. In fact, we probably spend most of our day > doing those things instead of sitting around attempting to relax. So it > almost seems better to me to go for a random reading without all the prep > stuff. > Another thing I’ve been told is that some people have a problem with BP that > relates to sitting, standing or lying down. Their BP might be fine for most > of the day, but might go too high or too low when changing positions. For > that reason, it’s a good idea to take occasional tests in different > positions and immediately after changing positions.
Response:
<snip> > IF you test both arms seriatum and there is a sicnificant difference > betwen them, soemthing is wrong, possibly a blockage somewhere.
Interesting. When I was pregnant, they used to get signifigantly different readings from one side to the other. Can’t remember now which side was which. Guess I should check that now and see if it’s still the same. <snip> — Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/
Response:
Hi Quentin, answer to your questions 1. I take one reading 2. not applicable 3. I like what I see and quit while I am ahead. Loretta — In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism.
Response:
This post not CC’d by email – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I don’t take my bp as faithfully as I might, but have a fewsomewhat >non-systematic comments. My bp machine booklet and Endo said don’t take >one test on the sme are right after another. You will get a lower , and >false reading because something happens to the arteries. *(They told me >what the something was, but I am havein ga senior moment.) >IF you test both arms seriatum and there is a sicnificant difference >betwen them, soemthing is wrong, possibly a blockage somewhere. >IF you rest after even mild exercise (like walkin garound the rom, or from >one room to another and then test 15 mins or so later after yu have been >sitting and there is a drop in your bp, you are in bad shape and need to >do more aerobic exercise. >Don’t know if any of this helps you in your quest or not, but it is the >little that I know.
G’day G’day Wendy, I’m sure it will help. In my experience even when someone mentions something and can’t remember all the details … it reminds someone else of an important point … the collective mind at work. Talking about knowing whether one is in good shape or not, how significant in pulse rate. I tested three times in a row and got 51 beats per minute +/- 1. Best wishes, >Wendy
– Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> G’day G’day Folks, > Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little > challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures > one already knows the answer in another context or other people have > solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. > OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a > solution. > When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of > three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what > one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose > from something like mistiming the puff. > Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? > Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? > OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. > For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, > 1. How many readings do you take at one session? > 2. Which one, if any, do you record? > 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy?
I don’t currently take any BP readings unless for some reason I think it might be out of whack. I’ve had slightly high BP since my mid 20’s. It seems to be very well controlled with medication and my current Dr. sees no reason for me to monitor it at home on a regular basis. This was not always so. When I was going to the military facility in Cape Cod, the Dr. I saw wanted me to keep a log of my BP readings. He suggested twice daily random readings, but I often did more readings just for the heck of it. Had a lot of time on my hands and there’s not much to do in Cape Cod, especially in the winter! *L* What I learned is that I could take reading after reading repeatedly, and get entirely different numbers. I also learned that I almost always got lower readings at home. Usually low enough to be well below normal. But I also studied up on taking the readings and when I did them at home, I did everything the way it is supposed to be done. For one thing, I made sure to get a cuff that was large enough to fit well around my upper arm. If the cuff is too small (or too large) you’ll get a false reading. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to a new Dr. and they’ve used the standard cuff on me. They will then get a funny look on their face, then go get the larger cuff. They always get a better reading then. My arms are not fat, but they are very muscular and for that reason, I need the larger cuff. Other things that can affect your reading are talking, eating, drinking, and activity. It’s best not to have anything to eat or drink immediately before taking a reading and to sit still for 5 minutes before taking a reading. Take good deep breaths while doing the reading. I’ve found that shallow breaths or holding your breath can give you a higher reading. This is one reason why my readings are always higher at the Drs. office. I hate having that cuff squeezing my arm. I’m fine to do it to myself, but I dislike having anyone else do it to me. I get sort of panicky. I think this is because I once had a nurse pump the cuff up on my arm, then leave the room to talk on the phone to her boyfriend. She left me like that for about 5 minutes. I was much younger then and didn’t know what to do. I thought if I took the cuff off I might break it or something, so I sat there suffering and seething. Needless to say, my reading was quite high then! And at one point, my eye Dr. feared I had glaucoma. They had gotten a new machine at their office that puffs air into the center of your eye to check the pressure. The person doing it wasn’t doing it right. If done right, it doesn’t hurt. But she kept missing the center of my eye and that not only hurt, but dried my eyes out. I was so tense from that they couldn’t get a decent reading. The Dr. then did an experiment. He tested my BP using an arm cuff. It was normal. He then seated me at the machine and tested it again. It went WAY high! He also did the old fashioned glaucoma test where the eye is numbed with cocaine and a needle is inserted to check the pressure. No glaucoma. Also, when I was going to the Dr. in Cape Cod, they guy who often did the BP tests was really chatty. He was a really nice guy and had just come from the area where I grew up. So he would strike up a conversation with me about the Seattle area. This was nice, but I would get excited in talking to him, and my BP would go up. I kept telling him that it’s best not to talk during a reading and that I feared that our conversations were giving me higher readings. So he agreed that the next time I came in, he would let someone else do my BP. Sure enough, I got a decent reading. So while I know all these things, it does pose some questions in my mind. Most of us do not spend our days sitting around breathing deeply and doing nothing. We have conversations. We get excited. We get tense and stressed out. We eat, exercise, etc. In fact, we probably spend most of our day doing those things instead of sitting around attempting to relax. So it almost seems better to me to go for a random reading without all the prep stuff. Another thing I’ve been told is that some people have a problem with BP that relates to sitting, standing or lying down. Their BP might be fine for most of the day, but might go too high or too low when changing positions. For that reason, it’s a good idea to take occasional tests in different positions and immediately after changing positions. — Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/
Response:
Hello Quentin, At the doctors office it is taken once by the nurse and most doctors will take it again when you are in the room with him/her. The doctor takes it again to see if it has gone "up" any. If it has, then that means when you are stressed (most are when seeing the doctor) and that your bp med may not be working that well. It means you have white coat hypertension, which means that anytime you are stressed, your bp is going up even when on meds. If it goes too high, they will usually end up changing the particular med that you on. Most will give it at least one more visit before they do that, though. At least this is what I have found out. When I check at home, I usually only check it in the mornings and the evenings (once each time). I do not check it all of the time, but at least once or twice a month I have a period of time where I keep tabs on it to make sure the bp med is still working (maybe 5 days in a row). I do record the readings and other specifics (under stress, sick, etc.). I am probably not what you would consider a "regular" checker as I do not check it everyday. My bp ususally runs around 120/70. Best, Dot Type 2 Diag 8/2001 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >G’day G’day Folks, > Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little >challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures >one already knows the answer in another context or other people have >solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. >OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a >solution. >When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of >three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what >one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose >from something like mistiming the puff. >Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? >Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? >OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. >For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, >1. How many readings do you take at one session? >2. Which one, if any, do you record? >3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? >Thanks,
Response:
: G’day G’day Folks, : Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little : challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures : one already knows the answer in another context or other people have : solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. : OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a : solution. : When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of : three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what : one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose : from something like mistiming the puff. : Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? : Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? : OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. : For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, : 1. How many readings do you take at one session? : 2. Which one, if any, do you record? : 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? : Thanks, : : — : Quentin Grady ^ ^ / : New Zealand, >#,#< [ : / / : "… and the blind dog was leading." : http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin I don’t take my bp as faithfully as I might, but have a fewsomewhat non-systematic comments. My bp machine booklet and Endo said don’t take one test on the sme are right after another. You will get a lower , and false reading because something happens to the arteries. *(They told me what the something was, but I am havein ga senior moment.) IF you test both arms seriatum and there is a sicnificant difference betwen them, soemthing is wrong, possibly a blockage somewhere. IF you rest after even mild exercise (like walkin garound the rom, or from one room to another and then test 15 mins or so later after yu have been sitting and there is a drop in your bp, you are in bad shape and need to do more aerobic exercise. Don’t know if any of this helps you in your quest or not, but it is the little that I know. Wendy
Response:
G’day G’day Folks, Some days it is like being born again. One discovers little challenges like gravity … unless one laughs at oneself and figures one already knows the answer in another context or other people have solved the problem before one even knew the current one existed. OK, so looking at a similar context in which there is already a solution. When measuring peak flow rates for asthma one measures the best of three ie the highest reading. That seems reasonable. It measures what one’s lungs CAN do. The assumption is the other lower readings arose from something like mistiming the puff. Is the blood pressure situation truly analogous? Are we looking for the best reading in the blood pressure case? OK, so eliciting what others already know about the situation. For those of you who regularly take blood pressure readings, 1. How many readings do you take at one session? 2. Which one, if any, do you record? 3. What’s the rationale behind your strategy? Thanks, — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
]. So, it may be an idea to get it updated, even if it is to say drug allergies and then have the wallet card and medic alert have the actual list of allergies. Hope this helps! SW.