Taking blood pressure .. Palm up or down?
-
This might seem strange but I am getting a significant difference in reading when my palm is up or down. When it's up, I am in the mid to low 120 and might 70; when it's down im in the low 130 and low 80. Why is that?
Which one should I go by? -
@eduardo-0 this is how I've been taught to take bp readings. Relax a few minutes..sit in a chair with your back supported, feet flat on the floor. Rest your arm on a table, making sure your upper arm is level with your heart. Apply the cuff to the LEFT arm, about 1 1/2" above the bend in the elbow. Make sure the cuff isn't too loose or too tight, because that can give you inaccurate readings. If you can comfortably insert two fingers into the top of the cuff, then it's the correct tightness. Be sure the cable of the cuff runs down the center of your inner arm, & lines up with your middle finger. You've probably guessed by now...you sit with your palm UP. Don't force your arm UP, do it in a relaxed fashion. If it's slightly & I mean very slightly rotated, don't be concerned about it. Take a reading..disregard that reading because it's very likely inaccurate. Take 3 consecutive readings about 2 min apart, then average them out. That's your reading.