Had your blood pressure checked lately? Your results might not be accurate. High blood pressure can cause stress on your heart, arteries and organs so an accurate blood pressure measurement is very important. Medical articles published in the “British Medical Journal” and “Canadian Medical Association Journal” discusses blood pressure measurement errors that commonly occur in the clinic. Lack of patient preparation, improper measurement techniques and equipment problems can overestimate your blood pressure. This can lead to an incorrect diagnosis of high blood pressure.
Gold Standard for Measuring Blood Pressure
Blood pressure has been measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer for over 100 years. The ‘gold standard” for measuring blood pressure involves patient preparation, standardized measurement techniques and well-maintained and calibrated mercury sphygmomanometers. Clinical trials and other research studies use the gold standard method to accurately measure blood pressure at any point in time. Over the past few years clinics have switched to automated electronic devices to measure blood pressure. These devices may perform badly for a variety of reasons that will be discussed in a future article.
Overestimated Blood Pressure Measurement- a personal story
I am a healthy female with no risk factors or dietary factors that would cause me to have high blood pressure. At one of my yearly physicals the medical assistant took my blood pressure using an automatic digital blood pressure device. The result was high. The next three follow-up visits my blood pressure was measured by the same device. The results were all high. It is common clinical practice to prescribe a blood pressure medication after three consecutively high readings. I refused the drug because I was pretty confidant it was either a device error or user error or both. My doctor scheduled me to participate in a blood pressure clinic. My blood pressure was measured on 10 different days. I had it measured at different times on each of those ten days. All ten measurements were very normal. This incident happened in 2006. I still do not have high blood pressure. The outcome could have been very different. I could have been incorrectly diagnosed with high blood pressure and treated with medication for high blood pressure. I could have experience side effects from the medication because I did not have high blood pressure.
Underestimated Blood Pressure Measurement
Clinical errors can also underestimate people’s blood pressure but this rarely occurs according to the medical article. An underestimated blood pressure could cause someone to be incorrectly diagnosed with normal blood pressure when they actually do have high blood pressure. This can be life threatening because they are not being treated for high blood pressure.
Home Monitoring
One way of taking charge of your health is to monitor your blood pressure at home by purchasing an automated blood pressure device. The Omron HEM-705 CP was scientifically tested for its precision and accuraacy and the results show it can be used in research studies. You can purchase the Omron for about $87 on Amazon.com. Be sure to read and follow the manual. Be sure to document your blood pressure measurements and discuss them with your doctor.
Blood Pressure Clinics
Another way you can take charge of your health is to have your blood pressure measured accurately at a blood pressure clinic by well-trained health care professionals who use the “gold standard." Woodland Senior Services offers a monthly drop-in blood pressure clinic. Contact your local city to find our if there are senior services in your area. If you are not a senior then contact your health care provider to find out if your medical group offers a blood pressure clinic.
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