Learned something today

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

St. Catharines, Ontario

October 8, 2024 8:12am CST

Apparently, the position of your arm when having your blood pressure taken can give different readings. The study tested three positions: arm resting on the table, arm resting in one's lap, and arm dangling down (which gave the highest reading). Which makes me wonder: what if I raised my arm above my head? Would it give an even better reading?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/arm-position-during-blood-pressure-174903799.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/arm-position-during-blood-pressure-174903799.html

10 people like this

9 responses

@marguicha (230350)

• Chile

8 Oct 24

I knew about the arm position but never thought about an arm above one´s head.

3 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

8 Oct 24

How to cheat at blood pressure 101.

2 people like this

@marguicha (230350)

• Chile

8 Oct 24

@BarBaraPrz Yup!

Only you can´t do it if the doctor is watching.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222623)

• United States

9 Oct 24

I've been getting my blood pressure taken on my lower arm. It's much less painful. Have a good day.

2 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

9 Oct 24

Interesting...

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (222623)

• United States

11 Oct 24

@porwest They always make it too tight for me.

2 people like this

@porwest (112864)

• United States

10 Oct 24

I have never experienced pain when getting my blood pressure taken...unless they get a little too happy with that plunger and tighten me up like a vice.

2 people like this

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)

• China

8 Oct 24

Your arm should be at the same level as your heart when take your blood presure.It will give lower readings if raise your arm above your head.

2 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

8 Oct 24

As I figured.

2 people like this

@rakski (156578)

• Philippines

8 Oct 24

The result will be as different and can be unreliable

2 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

8 Oct 24

Yes.

2 people like this

@rakski (156578)

• Philippines

8 Oct 24

1 person likes this

@anya12adwi (10292)

• India

8 Oct 24

Yes, because of the gravity, i guess!

2 people like this

@somewitch (1466)

•

8 Oct 24

I was always told to rest my arm on the table, I knew there was a reason but now I know why. But I never thought of raising my arm above my head.

I'm usually anxious and just follow instructions when blood pressure is taken.

2 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

8 Oct 24

That's about the only 'test' I don't mind.

1 person likes this

@porwest (112864)

• United States

10 Oct 24

My blood pressure is always higher in a doctor's office. You never know where they might want to poke you and that makes me a bit trepidatious.

2 people like this

@somewitch (1466)

•

10 Oct 24

@porwest That's a reasonable threat to be anxious about. In my case I think it's just the fear of the cuff that squeezes too hard.

2 people like this

@snowy22315 (209080)

• United States

17 Mar 25

I've wondered about that too

1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

17 Mar 25

And now we both know.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (209080)

• United States

17 Mar 25

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382357)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Oct 24

Vince takes his blood pressure sitting down and standing up. I must ask him what the difference is. Standing up he'd have his arm dangling.

1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (51837)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

9 Oct 24

According to this article, I suppose standing up would give a higher reading?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382357)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Oct 24

@BarBaraPrz Vince says typically it would go up a little bit but not always.

1 person likes this

@porwest (112864)

• United States

10 Oct 24

lol. Hey, you never know. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get smiles from the doc.

1 person likes this