Question About Recording Systolic BP?!
Question:
Question About Recording Systolic BP?
I take my blood pressure once a week on a blood pressure machine. When I first sit down and record my BP, the systolic is quite high (about 140-144), but after a moment or two, I'll retake my systolic BP and it will be around 122-128. What is the reason for this discrepency? And which number should I take as my "real" systolic BP? Thanks.
Answers:
You should be sitting relaxed for five minutes before you take your BP to get an accurate measure of your resting SBP. If you are worried about accuracy you could take it three times during the day and then average your values.