Blood pressure measurements are an important part of medical checkups. They allow doctors to assess a patient’s heart health and can indicate potential issues like heart disease or stroke risk. However, sometimes BP readings may be inaccurate and not reflect a person’s true blood pressure.
False blood pressure readings, either too high or too low, can be concerning and lead to unnecessary additional testing or incorrect treatment recommendations. Understanding the factors that influence BP measurements can help patients and doctors interpret the numbers appropriately.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by blood on the walls of the arteries as it is pumped through the circulatory system by the heart. It is recorded as two numbers – the systolic pressure (top number) and diastolic pressure (bottom number).
The systolic pressure represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pushes blood out. The diastolic pressure is the pressure remaining in the arteries between heartbeats as the heart relaxes and refills with blood.
Normal blood pressure is considered less than 120/80 mmHg. Elevated readings indicate hypertension, which strains the cardiovascular system over time and increases the risk for conditions like coronary artery disease, stroke, kidney failure, etc. Low blood pressure or hypotension may cause insufficient blood flow to organs.
Why do false BP readings occur?
There are several factors that can lead to inaccurate blood pressure measurements:
Faulty equipment
Defective blood pressure monitors can provide erroneous readings. The cuff may have air leaks or the calibration may be off. Monitors should be professionally validated and recalibrated periodically to ensure accuracy.
Improper cuff size
Using a cuff that is too small or large for the patient’s arm can impact the reading. An undersized cuff will give a higher pressure while an oversized cuff gives a lower pressure. The inflatable part of the cuff should be about 80% of the arm circumference.
Placement during measurement
The position of the cuff on the arm and a patient’s posture during measurement affects BP. Cuff should be placed directly on the skin, 1 inch above the elbow crease, at heart level. Patients should sit upright with back support and feet flat on the ground.
Talking during measurement
Talking during the blood pressure reading can increase the measurement by 10 mmHg or more. Patients should sit quietly and refrain from talking during the test.
Full bladder
A full bladder puts pressure on arteries and raises BP readings by about 10 points. Patients should try to empty their bladder before the test.
Caffeine, exercise, stress
Caffeine, exercise, and stress can all temporarily spike blood pressure. Patients should avoid these triggers for at least 30 minutes before the test.
Crossed legs during measurement
Crossing the legs can increase the muscle tension and nervous system activity, raising the BP. Patients should sit with both feet flat on the floor.
Recent smoking
The nicotine in cigarettes causes temporary blood vessel constriction that elevates readings. Patients should refrain from smoking right before measurements.
Full stomach
The digestion process increases blood flow to the stomach and raises BP. For accurate readings, patients should not eat a large meal beforehand.
Cuff over clothing
Placing the cuff over a shirtsleeve or coat instead of directly on the bare arm can lead to a falsely elevated measurement. The cuff should make close contact with skin.
Arm and body position
If the arm is below heart level during measurement, blood will pool in the arm veins, artificially raising the pressure. The arm should be supported at heart height.
White coat hypertension
Some patients experience a spike in BP only in a medical setting due to anxiety. This “white coat hypertension” disappears outside the office. Doctors may need to measure BP over several visits to determine if high readings reflect true hypertension or just white coat syndrome.
Factors that affect correct BP measurement
To get an accurate reading, certain protocols should be followed:
Avoid exertion, caffeine, smoking before measurement
Activities that stimulate the heart and nerves will artificially raise BP temporarily. Patients should rest quietly for 5-10 minutes beforehand.
Empty bladder beforehand
A bladder pressing on nearby artery can increase BP by up to 10 points. Use restroom before test.
No talking during measurement
Speaking requires muscle action which can tighten arteries and raise BP readings by 10 mmHg or more. Stay silent.
Properly fitted cuff
The inflatable part of cuff should be about 80% of upper arm circumference. This ensures artery is compressed properly.
Cuff at heart level
The midpoint of the cuff should be placed at the level of the right atrium of heart to avoid artifically high or low readings.
Arm supported
Patient’s arm should rest comfortably on a flat surface at heart height so blood doesn’t pool in veins and alter reading.
Legs uncrossed
Crossing legs can tense leg muscles and raise BP. Keep both feet flat on floor.
Back and arm supported
Patients should sit upright in a chair with back support to avoid slumping. The arm should rest on an armrest or table.
Multiple measurements
BP can vary from minute to minute. Doctors should repeat measurements at least twice and record the average to confirm a diagnosis.
How to identify false BP readings
Here are some ways patients and doctors can identify potentially inaccurate blood pressure measurements:
Compare arm readings
Take readings on both arms sequentially. Varying pressures may indicate an issue with cuff, position, or technique.
Measure after 5 minutes of quiet rest
BP taken immediately after entering doctor’s office may reflect white coat hypertension. Wait 5 minutes and repeat.
Note readings taken with improper technique
Pressure measurements made with uncalibrated or wrong-sized cuff should not be considered reliable.
Check monitor calibration
Make sure blood pressure device has been properly calibrated and validated to provide accurate numbers.
Consider home vs clinic readings
Home BP measurements may provide a less anxious environment and reflect true BP better than doctor visit readings.
Confirm high readings with repeat tests
If BP is elevated, take multiple measurements 5 minutes apart to determine if hypertension is consistently present.
Correlate with symptoms
Dizziness, headaches, vision changes may signal true high BP. Lack of symptoms with high clinic reading can indicate white coat syndrome.
24-hour ambulatory monitoring
A 24-hour BP monitor worn at home provides a precise average pressure unaffected by temporary fluctuations.
How to prevent false readings
Here are some tips patients and medical staff can follow to improve accuracy of BP measurements:
Calibrate equipment regularly
Blood pressure monitors and sphygmomanometers should be validated and recalibrated annually per protocols to ensure correct readings.
Use proper cuff size
The inflatable bladder within cuff should be about 80% width of patient’s arm to compress artery accurately.
Position cuff, arm, and body correctly
Cuff should be place 1 inch above elbow crease with lower edge of cuff at heart level. Patients should sit upright with back support.
Support arm at heart level
Patient’s arm should rest comfortably on a flat surface at heart height to allow proper blood flow.
Take readings in calm setting
Measurements should be taken in a quiet, relaxing environment after 5-10 minutes of seated rest to minimize white coat effects.
Ensure proper pre-test preparation
Patients should use restroom, avoid smoking, caffeine, and exercise for 30 minutes before BP measurements.
Take multiple readings
Take at least two measurements spaced 1-2 minutes apart and record the average to account for variability.
Confirm high readings with ambulatory monitoring
If office BP is persistently high, follow up with home measurements or 24-hour ambulatory monitoring to confirm diagnosis.
Measure weight and arm circumference
Updated weight and arm circumference allows accurate selection of proper cuff size for each patient.
Conclusion
Blood pressure can be affected by many factors ranging from improper equipment and technique to a patient’s posture, intake of stimulants, mood, and more. White coat hypertension also plays a role. Being aware of these potential influences can help patients and providers correctly interpret BP readings.
Following proper measurement protocols, using calibrated equipment, repeating measurements, and confirming unusual readings via ambulatory monitoring can minimize false high or low values. Accurate blood pressure testing is key to correctly diagnosing and managing heart health.
