By pH health care professionals

“Woah! I knew I was a little nervous, but I was not expecting my blood pressure to have increased by that much!” Well, it’s possible it didn’t. You may experience a “white coat effect,” where you get a high reading in the doctor’s office, but outside the office, your blood pressure is totally normal. And sometimes a high blood pressure reading is caused by something as small as the way you are sitting, such as when you cross your legs or need to use the restroom.  Believe it or not, all these activities can give you a falsely high reading.

When you get a falsely high blood pressure reading, you may end up with a prescription – and side effects – you don’t really need. It’s important to make sure your doctor is getting the most accurate information about your current health.

With May being National High Blood Pressure Education Month, take a few minutes to learn how to get the most accurate blood pressure reading, and share this vital info with your friends and family.

How common is high blood pressure?

67 million people are diagnosed with high blood pressure in the U.S. – that’s about 1 in 3 adults. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, over-works your heart, increasing your risk for serious health problems like heart disease and stroke, according to the CDC.

It’s easy to get your blood pressure checked, and many pharmacies offer free screenings, so there really is no reason why you can’t be proactive and routinely monitor your blood pressure.

What can you do to get the most accurate blood pressure reading?

1.        Empty your bladder first (full bladder adds 10-15 mm Hg)
2.        Don’t have a conversation (talking adds 10-15 mm Hg)
3.        Put the cuff on your bare arm (cuff over clothing adds 10-40 mm Hg)
4.        Support your back (Unsupported back adds 5-10 mm Hg)
5.        Support the arm at heart level (unsupported arm adds 10 mm Hg)
6.        Support your feet (unsupported feet add 5-10 mm Hg)
7.        Keep your legs uncrossed (crossed legs add 2-8 mm Hg)

Be proactive. Encourage friends and family to get their blood pressure checked if they haven’t done so recently. It’s easy to check and it’s painless, so why not?

Enjoy Your Healthy Life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.