Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure: How to Accurately Measure it?

If you have hypertension, you should make long-term lifestyle and behavioral changes, as well as consider medication if your doctor recommends it. 

Seema Rai
Seema Rai

Unfortunately, without medical intervention, there is no quick way to lower blood pressure. Long-term behavioral changes, such as stress reduction, improved sleep, exercise, and a low-sodium diet, are the most effective way to lower pressure, but this takes time. Certain medications may also be beneficial.

It is possible to obtain an artificially high blood pressure reading at home. Making sure your pressure is correctly measured is critical and can immediately lower your results. A sphygmomanometer and an inflatable cuff are used to measure blood pressure. This is usually wrapped around your upper arm above your elbow.

Learn how to lower your blood pressure and take an accurate reading in this article. Also Read Is it possible to get diabetes from eating too much sugar?

How can you lower your blood pressure quickly?

There is no real way to quickly lower your blood pressure at home. If you have hypertension, you should make long-term lifestyle and behavioral changes, as well as consider medication if your doctor recommends it.  Take an accurate pressure reading.
If you take your blood pressure at home, make sure you do it correctly.

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Factors responsible for high blood pressure

The following factors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), may contribute to an unusually high blood pressure reading:

  • Anxiety or fear of having your blood pressure taken
  • During the measurement, cross your legs.
  • Smoking prior to measurement
  • Caffeine or alcohol consumption prior to measurement
  • Exercising or exerting yourself physically in the 30 minutes preceding measurement

How to accurately measure pressure

  • Eat or drink nothing 30 minutes before the measurement.
  • Before measuring, make sure your bladder is empty.
  • Before the measurement, sit and rest for at least five minutes in a comfortable chair.
  • During the measurement, keep your legs uncrossed and your feet flat on the floor.
  • Rest your arm on a table or other supportive surface with the cuff on it at chest height.
  • Do not speak during the measurement.
  • Avoid making loud noises in your surroundings while measuring.

There are numerous methods for lowering blood pressure, but none are quick. Dietary changes, weight loss, exercise, medication, stress reduction, quitting smoking and drinking, and improving sleep quality can all help to lower your pressure in the long run.

In the short term, make sure you’re taking accurate blood pressure readings. Incorrect positioning, a full bladder, or physical activity right before a measurement can all result in an artificially high reading.
A high blood pressure reading can be frightening, and it’s natural to seek a quick fix to lower it. If you want to lower your pressure, it’s worth the long-term effort of making lifestyle and behavioral changes, as well as taking any recommended medication.

Also Read Dates for weight loss: Can this dried fruit help you lose weight?  Is it possible to get diabetes from eating too much sugar?

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