| Doctors are some of the most trusted people | | | | reference guide for what the patient's slightly |
| alive, but are they doing their job properly? In | | | | elevated blood pressure should read. |
| recent years it has become apparent that some | | | | The procedure is only applicable in a doctor's |
| doctors, even the doctors that you may have | | | | office, although some doctors still may not |
| been visiting for a number of years may be | | | | undertake the full routine. If they do not, make |
| taking some very dangerous short-cuts when | | | | sure you ask them to test you when standing up |
| measuring your blood pressure levels, during a | | | | and sitting down, and on each arm. Both you and |
| physical exam or just an ordinary check-up. Be | | | | the doctor may be surprised on how different the |
| aware that not every doctor does this, but you | | | | readings can be. It is a very good idea to rest for |
| should also bare it in mind on your next visit, just | | | | a few minutes, breath deeply and ask them to |
| in case. | | | | test again, as the reading will be slightly different |
| If you are taken into hospital in an emergency | | | | after a short rest. You can of course arrive a |
| case, this is when they will first measure your | | | | little early for your appointment and just rest for |
| blood pressure. The rush and stress of being in | | | | a few minutes in the waiting room, either way is |
| this situation could make your blood pressure to | | | | fine and definitely does work out to be safer and |
| raise above your normal and safe levels, coupled | | | | gives the doctor more accurate readings. |
| with this, the anxiety of being taken onto a ward | | | | Obviously one of the biggest causes for |
| can make your blood pressure soar. This is a | | | | inaccurate blood pressure readings is when the |
| very unprofessional way to test your blood | | | | equipment that is used does not function properly. |
| pressure levels, as the doctor will see that the | | | | The doctor's office should test, update and |
| levels are potentially too high, possibly administer | | | | calibrate all of the equipment every so often, but |
| some drugs, or set back any surgery you may | | | | if you are suspicious of the testing device, ask |
| require, without thinking that it could just be | | | | the doctor if he can test you using a different |
| because of the stress you are going through. This | | | | cuff. At home, if you test your blood pressure |
| may also lead to a misdiagnosis that could | | | | yourself, make sure that you follow all of the |
| damage your health further. | | | | instructions down to the last period, and do not |
| Misdiagnosed high or low readings can be | | | | use if you think it may be broken. |
| potentially fatal. There is the possibility with a | | | | You can of course purchase an "at home" blood |
| particularly high spike, for a doctor to prescribe | | | | pressure testing cuff. It is very important to |
| medication that could last for the duration of your | | | | make sure that you do not just buy the cheapest |
| life and sometimes causing premature death or | | | | one that you can find. The cheaper versions do |
| lengthy illness. Because of the risk of heart | | | | not usually give a reading that is anywhere close |
| disease, it is the doctorss job to take the course | | | | to being accurate. It is always good to invest in |
| of action he or she deems necessary. It may be | | | | the more expensive kits that include a |
| worth asking the doctor to check your blood | | | | stethoscope, just to make sure that your blood |
| pressure one or two more times, and after you | | | | pressure scores are correct. There are a number |
| have calmed down, to make sure they do not | | | | of models that are approved by hospitals which |
| misdiagnose. Most, if not all doctors will be happy | | | | you can buy at a higher cost. It is; however, |
| to do this for you. | | | | always better to receive a blood pressure test at |
| The American Heart Association has established | | | | your local doctor's office or in a hospital. |
| guidelines for doctors when they check any | | | | One of the big areas where an error occurs is |
| person's blood pressure. This process involves | | | | when an operator does not use the equipment |
| four tests being taken, one on each arm when | | | | properly. If you think that your doctor has put |
| you are standing up and when you are sitting | | | | the cuff around your arm tightly enough, ask |
| down. These tests are performed using a manual | | | | them to check it before doing the test. This |
| cuff, which are thought to be the most accurate | | | | problem is particularly common when performing |
| apparatus that are available at this time. At times | | | | a test at home. Make sure you have at least |
| when a patient is under a particularly high amount | | | | some basic training from a fully qualified and |
| of pressure and stress the blood pressure is | | | | registered health care professional, otherwise you |
| tested twice on each arm, standing up and sitting, | | | | could misread the blood pressure levels as being |
| and an average score is calculated to determine | | | | either too high or too low. |
| how high or low their blood pressure actually is. | | | | Now you know, it is vital to ensure both patient |
| The blood pressure readings shown on the arms | | | | and doctor are performing their blood pressure |
| when the patient is sitting down are thought to be | | | | tests correctly, otherwise the consequences could |
| the more accurate, and the readings when | | | | be dangerous, sometimes as far as being life |
| standing are logged but mainly just used as a | | | | threatening. |