When taking your blood pressure, make sure your blood pressure cuff fits right. If it doesn’t fit correctly, you could get a false blood pressure reading. When you’re trying to take charge of your health, this will get in your way.
You tend to have more errors when the cuff you use is too small. This can cause your blood pressure to appear elevated when it might not actually be. You also don’t want your cuff to be too large.
The good news is that blood pressure cuffs come in a wide variety of sizes so you can get the perfect fit. Your cuff will need to be placed above the elbow. This is generally the largest area of the arm.
Make sure that when you put the cuff on, it can completely go around the arm without cutting off circulation. It should be able to fit snugly, but not be too tight. If it feels too tight, you’ll need to up a size. If it’s not snug at all, you’ll need to go down a size.
It’s also important to make sure you take your blood pressure over a bare arm. You’ll get inaccurate results if you try to put the cuff over your clothing. When taking blood pressure it helps to wear a short sleeve shirt.
When going to the doctor to get a blood pressure reading, you may want to wear something short sleeved under warmer layers in cold weather. This way your blood pressure can be taken accurately without having to completely undress.
If purchasing your own blood pressure cuff, it’s important to actually measure your arm. Depending on the way the cuff sizes are measured, you may need to use inches or centimeters to measure your arm.
Then use the sizing chart from the manufacturer to determine which sized cuff you need. It’s better to take actual measurements than to guess at what’s the best size for you. It might not be the same as clothing size in other items.
In addition to having the right size cuff, it’s also important to be seated properly when taking your blood pressure. You should have your feet on the floor and be sitting up with good posture. You should also be as still and quiet as possible during the reading.
Having the right cuff can make the difference between having a correct blood pressure reading and one that’s significantly off. Make sure your blood pressure cuff fits right so you can get the most accurate reading possible.