I've had to keep track of my blood pressure so have been taking it 2-3 times daily. Each time I take it I take 3 readings, waiting four minutes between readings, and then average those. The problem is my arm has started aching from taking it so much. Is this dangerous?
High Blood Pressure - Blood pressure readings causing arm to ache?
Question posted by Nikilet on 24 May 2012
Last updated on 27 May 2012
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Answers
endlessPred
24 May 2012
The automatic does hurt because the muscle squeezes a nerve in the arm. However, my friend just was told by her doc that the wrist ones are not as accurate and that you ought to take your machine in to calibrate.
my machine kills me. The hospital variety does as well. I have found that carefully placing it is good. I do have a question. Why so many readings in a row? My doc says one and then wait at least fifteen minutes before trying again.
Nikilet
24 May 2012
I agree about the wrist monitors. I have read and read online about this subject and most say to take 2 or 3 readings and to wait several minutes in between readings, and then take an overall average to record. That has been the general concensus as far as what I've read, which has been MUCH, so that's what I'm doing.
endlessPred
24 May 2012
My rheumy says wait fifteen minutes for the muscles to recover normal blood flow. Maybe because I have a muscle disease. Anyhow they said don't use the wrist because of inaccuracies. That is why you might have to use that type three times and average rather than once and be done with a good arm version.
DzooBaby
25 May 2012
The wrist kind are notorius for being inaccurate but some of the store bought automatic cuffs can be inaccurate as well. It is best to take your cuff in to your Drs office any have someone check it against a good, old fashioned manual cuff (one where the professional pumps the cuff and listens to the blood flow with a stethoscope). If the readings between the manual cuff and the automatic cuff are pretty close then you know you are good to go!
DzooBaby
25 May 2012
Oh, and in nursing school, we were taught to wait 30 seconds to 1 minute between readings to allow circulation to return to normal pressure. If a person has problems with circulation, it may be better to wait longer but this is what I was taught in school.
Nikilet
27 May 2012
DzooBaby: I am more in agreement with you on this matter. I wait 4 minutes in between just to be on the safe side of things and I feel sure this is more than ample. Most sites I've been to will say 2-3 minutes.
endlessPred
27 May 2012
Thanks everyone. It must be my muscle disease that takes the extra time. Good to know. K
Nikilet
27 May 2012
This is off track. I also submitted a question to a doctor on this site. You don't get a discussion, just an answer. That has been at least 3 days ago and I've had nothing and can not find it. Can anyone help me with this?
Inactive
24 May 2012
If you have one of those automatic blood pressure cuffs that goes around your upper arm, I know it hurts. And if you have to do it so often, of course your arm will hurt. Don't think you are in Amy danger of harming yourself. Is your doc trying you out on new meds or something? My suggestion to you would n, if you can afford it, is to get an automatic wrist blood pressure cuff. Doesn't hurt anywhere near as much as the others and the accuracy is about the same.
Good luck with the pain,
Peace,
Sweet Hippie
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high blood pressure, blood disorders, blood pressure
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