11 MISTAKES IN MEASURING YOUR OWN BLOOD PRESSURE

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Equipment:

[fs]

This video should be mandatory for all doctors and nurses.

[agnesnewton]

This video is an eye opener for most people.Most GPs and nurses use the arm that they find closest to the computer desk.
While the blood pressure cuff is being applied the doctor or the nurse will be asking the patient various questions about their health while inflating the bp machine.This is a wrong method and needs to be stopped.
When the patient wants to roll up the sleeve of the arm that the blood pressure cuff is to be applied, the doctor or the nurse will say it is okay not to roll up the sleeve.
I am a retired qualify nurse and and from the old school.
Many thanks to you for this video and all the others.

[MsEagle]

Based on this video, I'd say most doctor's offices don't know how to take BP!

[johngoard]

Well as a retired Registered Nurse of 44 years, I agree with you Adam we were always taught this and I am talking of way back in 1971. One thing that many do ot realise is that t diastolic (or the lower number) pressure is the most important reading because that is the pressure that is exerted inside of a person's arteries all the time and if this pressure is much over 85 mm/Hg then this is what causes the artery walls to thicken and eventually over time harden and that is when a person will get into the area of heart and artery diseases. Of course, the higher number is important but the lower number is sadly overlooked and often forgotten about with the resulting issues associated with it..

[M.Campbell]

Pumping up the cuff until it causes the patient significant pain is also something that can raise blood pressure. That happens a lot. I have normal blood pressure and I always have to argue with the nurses. Their reply is that it's "standard" to pump it up to over 200. My blood pressure is normally around 120/65. Yet the repeated episodes of my arm getting tightly constricted, and painfully pinched, has given me white coat syndrome.

[artsmith]

My blood pressure might have come down a bit while watching just due to the calm and calming voice in this video.

[jestillwell]

I love #9. Waiting in a dentist's office in a relaxed environment before getting your blood pressure taken. Knowing you are there to have your teeth drilled on or pulled. Very relaxing.

[kws]

Thank you Doctor. I am almost 67 years old and am on 128-133 with 78. I am not interested in living longer but I want to live healthy.

[mikeflair]

I went to the doctor last week. Knowing my 'white coat syndrome' is coming, I tested my own BP that morning at 6 AM. Over 3 rounds, 112 / 78 was my average in a resting state. At the doctor's office at 9 AM, I tested out at 140 / 90, twice. That is significant and it happens every time. I have to explain this yearly.

[vforvictory]

That left arm thing is eye opening. The doctor office always tested my right arm.

[sohc]

I've been a doctor for 35 years and I learned something today. Good video.

[jillking]

Oh my gosh. Had my blood pressure tested by my doctor a couple of weeks ago. I began to take off my thick knitted jumper (sweater) and the Dr told me no need to and put the cuff over the jumper. I thought that was odd but I didn’t want to argue with her. Doc said my blood pressure was slightly high. Well after that I bought a home blood pressure monitor and appreciate all the information in this video of how to use it correctly.

[heidibee]

One of the times my doctor took my blood pressure l summoned the courage to tell him that maybe my pressure was usually higher in his office than at home or at the drug store was because he tightened it to a painful level. He said it shouldn't make a difference. When a nurse at the hospital kept talking during the BP test, l asked her politely to stop and start again while postponing the question period for afterward.

[jennybertenshaw]

I have white coat syndrome due to my mother being hysterical about taking any medication for as long as I can remember (early childhood) to her death from a heart attack aged 59. It sub consciously coloured all my interactions with doctors from then on.However what has always shocked me is how indifferent doctors have been to my telling them this They will INSIST on taking my BP, then seemed shocked when it goes through the roof THEN take it again to the point where I literally had no pulse on one occasion. I can't tell you how many times I have been LECTURED about this, like its something I can control..Personally I see no worth in this procedure as there are so many many flaws in it..From the arbitrary 'normal' which was based on a young fit Marine in the 1940's...to the conditions under which its taken..to even the number of times its taken within an hour..Too many doctors are ignorant on this matter...I prefer my home monitor ..

[maureennewman]

I’ve had my blood pressure measured by a doctor and nurse like that, when I questioned it the doctor did not like, but I asked for it to be on my bare arm, the nurse she done the same and said it doesn’t matter, I said I’d rather have it done on my bare arm thank you

[missyasche]

Yes! Every time I go to my Dr, my bp is high. I told him it's because I'm at his office. Lol. When I check it at home, it's always in a normal range. Besides, knowing my bp rises every time I'm there, my mind/body decides, hey, we're here, time to increase. My Dr. allowed me a few months to monitor myself at home. I did so and took several readings throughout the day, wrote them down, and also made note of the time of day, recently had coffee, etc... He was happy with my numbers at my f/u and scheduled me for a yearly exam vs another f/u.
Dr.s make me nervous (and I'm an RN 😮). Lol

[charlesdigennaro]

If you read the directions on any home blood pressure machine it explains every single step that this doctor explains but when you go to your doctor they break just about every rule there is. I definitely think that most people are misdiagnosed. Incentive for profit? Who knows. I brought my machine in to check against my docs and it’s just about on spot. Trust your own readings in your own environment and take record of your own readings.

[Dee-hizj]

All mistakes have been made for years (I'll withhold the name of the clinic). I drive 40 miles to the clinic after being up for a few hours, drinking a couple cups of coffee, 70 mph on the freeway with idiots all around me, into the office on time and have to wait 1/2 hour, then get in the exam room and immediately am cuffed tight and over my sleeve... usually voluntarily raise my arm... So of course Im 20 or 30 points higher than at home... I mention all this to my doc and he says - "well, you're probably right - our machines haven't been calibrated for quite some time." After many years on BP Meds, I gave them up - nearly all made me feel real bad... So now no meds for 6 years and my BP is around 116/70...I'm 78 and feel fine. I also take my home monitor with me for each appointment. Thanks for the very informative and helpful video!

[islandgal]

This is the best video I have seen on this topic. I'm 73 and have had all of these mistakes done to me. I can't tell you how many times I have had to request 'the right way' without letting them know I think they are dopes for not knowing the basics. Twice I have had it so tight I nearly screamed... and I gave birth to my second child without painkillers and am still a tough old bat.

Don't even get me started on the different medications I have been subjected to. Terrible side effects or one doctor kept increasing the dose up to 100mg and reading was just getting higher each time until another doctor switched me to something that works better for a 4mg dose.

[colineastwood]

The "dangling arm" advice needs to be adopted by just about every Doctor I have seen seen.