.

The 9:00 a.m. pressures were all over 150, but I took it several extra times to get my mind used to the idea. (I can push the button to get the rig to take pressures again if I want.) 9:30 a.m. was 138/81, so below 140 on first try. 10:00 a.m. pressure was over 150 so I pressed the button again and it was below 140 the second time. Deep breathing seems to help to keep it below 140. But so far, so good, as far as I am concerned. I just have to do my work today in 1/2 hour increments in between the measurements.

Thanks for the BP meds observations, DS and 49er.

jnk... wrote:The 9:00 a.m. pressures were all over 150, but I took it several extra times to get my mind used to the idea. (I can push the button to get the rig to take pressures again if I want.) 9:30 a.m. was 138/81, so below 140 on first try. 10:00 a.m. pressure was over 150 so I pressed the button again and it was below 140 the second time. Deep breathing seems to help to keep it below 140. But so far, so good, as far as I am concerned. I just have to do my work today in 1/2 hour increments in between the measurements.

it's also very important that you keep your arm, and the pressure cuff both, in a consistent position.

many people don't realize that blood pressure is influenced by position, both of the body, and the measurement spot, gravity affects the blood, just like it affects any other fluid.

coincidentally, I was having a discussion of blood pressure measurement technique with one of the techs at dialysis yesterday, he was very knowledgeable on the subject.

the most important thing is that the measurement point should be level with the heart. so typically if you're using the upper arm, the bottom of the cuff should rest at the bend of the elbow, if the cuff is higher, you'll get a low reading, if it's lower, you'll get a higher reading (because of the effect of gravity on the blood). I knew about that, and that you can get a good reading from most anywhere on the body, forearm, wrist, thigh, etc, as long as the measurement point is level with the heart.

The tech also said if measuring on the upper arm, the cuff shouldn't cover more than 2/3rds of the arm, or the reading will be artificially low, he also said that smaller cuffs will give a higher reading, and larger ones a lower reading, as in "oh, his bp's high, but he's got big arms, let me get a bigger cuff... ok, that's better" but it's not as accurate a reading...

all the talk was spurred by this article.

I sort of play with the bp measurements sometimes while I'm on dialysis... (the machine does a measurement every 30 minutes, or whenever someone hits the manual button), it's very important to stay as still as possible, because all the measurement is done by detecting small variations in the air pressure in the cuff, and even a tiny muscle twitch will throw that off. one time I wiggled my fingers while it was measuring, and it said my heart rate was 196 I don't remember what the bp came out as that time though..

palerider wrote:

jnk... wrote:The 9:00 a.m. pressures were all over 150, but I took it several extra times to get my mind used to the idea. (I can push the button to get the rig to take pressures again if I want.) 9:30 a.m. was 138/81, so below 140 on first try. 10:00 a.m. pressure was over 150 so I pressed the button again and it was below 140 the second time. Deep breathing seems to help to keep it below 140. But so far, so good, as far as I am concerned. I just have to do my work today in 1/2 hour increments in between the measurements.

it's also very important that you keep your arm, and the pressure cuff both, in a consistent position.

many people don't realize that blood pressure is influenced by position, both of the body, and the measurement spot, gravity affects the blood, just like it affects any other fluid.

coincidentally, I was having a discussion of blood pressure measurement technique with one of the techs at dialysis yesterday, he was very knowledgeable on the subject.

the most important thing is that the measurement point should be level with the heart. so typically if you're using the upper arm, the bottom of the cuff should rest at the bend of the elbow, if the cuff is higher, you'll get a low reading, if it's lower, you'll get a higher reading (because of the effect of gravity on the blood). I knew about that, and that you can get a good reading from most anywhere on the body, forearm, wrist, thigh, etc, as long as the measurement point is level with the heart.

The tech also said if measuring on the upper arm, the cuff shouldn't cover more than 2/3rds of the arm, or the reading will be artificially low, he also said that smaller cuffs will give a higher reading, and larger ones a lower reading, as in "oh, his bp's high, but he's got big arms, let me get a bigger cuff... ok, that's better" but it's not as accurate a reading...

all the talk was spurred by this article.

I sort of play with the bp measurements sometimes while I'm on dialysis... (the machine does a measurement every 30 minutes, or whenever someone hits the manual button), it's very important to stay as still as possible, because all the measurement is done by detecting small variations in the air pressure in the cuff, and even a tiny muscle twitch will throw that off. one time I wiggled my fingers while it was measuring, and it said my heart rate was 196 I don't remember what the bp came out as that time though..

Many thanks, Palerider.

Not sure if this is a test I'm supposed to pass or supposed to fail.

jnk... wrote:Not sure if this is a test I'm supposed to pass or supposed to fail.

heh, either way, getting the most accurate measurements is probably desired.

what I do is whenever I feel the cuff start to inflate, I assume the same arm position as much as possible while it's inflating, then try and hold still without any twitches while it deflates (which is when the measurement happens).

best of luck!

ps, maybe a couple of quick deep breaths when it starts inflating

And be careful you don't tense up trying to stay in the same position... not as important as being relaxed.

The last two readings have been 133/80, so maybe I'm gonna pass.

But maybe we've veered too far in this direction in this thread for too long.

Anyone else have any ideas on how to take this thread further off-topic from the off-topic topic of keeping threads on topic?

jnk... wrote:The last two readings have been 133/80, so maybe I'm gonna pass.

But maybe we've veered too far in this direction in this thread for too long.

Anyone else have any ideas on how to take this thread further off-topic from the off-topic topic of keeping threads on topic?

Nothing better than a OT: post Going OT! It started bad, and devolved! Jim

Goofproof wrote:

jnk... wrote:The last two readings have been 133/80, so maybe I'm gonna pass.

But maybe we've veered too far in this direction in this thread for too long.

Anyone else have any ideas on how to take this thread further off-topic from the off-topic topic of keeping threads on topic?

Nothing better than a OT: post Going OT! It started bad, and devolved! Jim

Hey, if we're gonna wreck this train, let's go ahead and step on it to make it a doozy, shall we?

In ten years, I doubt if I'll see it, Newbee's will still be bringing it back on the front page, giving us the wisdom of their much needed suggestions. Life forever... Jim

jnk... wrote:Hey, if we're gonna wreck this train, let's go ahead and step on it to make it a doozy, shall we?

It's already a doozy.

Sounds like you are doing well!