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Can I mess up my blood pressure readings with arm cuffs, ibuprofen?
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: 2 hours ago | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
Great question, @ehdog. I particularly love it because of fantastic timing with my own nurse visit to review how I am taking my blood pressure (bp) at home.
Everyone is bringing up good thoughts to consider. My thoughts go to the root of why you are asking. My doctor recently recommended medication changes, wanted me to bring my home machine in and visit with a nurse for education and make sure my home readings are accurate. The nurse watched me put on the cuff and take my own bp. Then, she took a series of readings alternating between her machine and mine. She determined my machine is accurate, I know how to take my readings properly and helped me understand parameters as to when I would need to contact my doctor. Now I am all set to manage my bp and my doctor knows readings I pass on to her are reliable. I suspect this may eliminate the needs to see my doctor in the clinic should I notice changes.
I guess I give you details of my recent experience to add into the mix of the good recommendations you are reading from others, to encourage you to run your questions by your doctor, maybe request the same type of appointment. It is making things less stressful here because I know my doctor will find the readings I take as reliable and I know when to contact her.
Do you have a specific schedule, or reason you are monitoring your blood pressure? Do you have a range that is “safe” for you?
Replies to "Great question, @ehdog. I particularly love it because of fantastic timing with my own nurse visit..."
@jlharsh Thank you Janell, Volunteer Monitor, for all your accurate information re: home monitoring of blood pressure. Some more tips...
Yes, bring yours to your doctor to first see if the readings (yours and the doctors) are within a reasonable range together for accuracy. Very important...if not, your machine is not reliable.
Empty your bladder before taking a reading. Do not cross your legs.
Wait 30 minutes after having a cigarette if you are a smoker (hope not!). Do the same if having a cup of coffee, soda, etc. anything with caffeine which will bump it up.
Take it at various times of the day...our blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day which is normal.
When you take it, be sure your surroundings are calm. No music, TV back ground noise or talking.
Yes, do the 2 finger test to ensure it is not too tight or lose. Your fingers should have a little wiggle room. Make sure the cuff is about 2" up from the crock of your elbow.
The "tubing" from the cuff to the machine should be over your artery in the elbow...middle area. Relax your arm up on the table - you should be sitting...machine at the level at the heart or as close to as possible. Deep breath before starting and relax yourself during the reading.
Lastly, if you have heart disease it is not indicated to take any form of ibuprofen which can cause the arteries in the heart to constrict - not a good thing. So I will "guess" taking such a medication before a B/P reading will bump up your B/P also, constricting the arteries.
Heart disease and ibuprofen are never a good mix. Tylenol for you.
I will personally recommend the brand Omron. But that's my preference. Used this brand for years and found it to be the most accurate.
Good luck to you!
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@jlharsh
Excellent information and guidance on what to do.