Title: BP Cuff @ Home. Guessing Game ea. time diff results. Is an Average good? help please
I bought a BP Cuff almost 1 year ago (yes, I'm late to the game at about 50 y.o.) and only today started getting serious about Note taking the readings in a file and getting more accurate readings as it seems to have been a guessing game all the other times before, about a year ago when it was delivered to me, I watched a couple of YT vids to learn about how to do it, but I got widely disparate different readings....
So basically today, I've taken great pains today to take more accurate measurements (without obviously stressing or overthinking to get an accurate reading)
How did I make more of an effort?:
1) I took my 1 16 oz. energy drink 2 hours before the reading (caffeine 2 hours before the reading)
2) I emptied my bladder and made a bowel movement 2 hours before the reading
3) I did not drink or eat anything 2 hours before the reading
4) I sat in a lower metal chair (Before I used a computer chair the other times which is a bit higher up) until reading the BP owners manual which stated to have the base of the chair you sit on almost 12 inches from the table top upon which the bp cuff rests
5) I sat for 3-5 minutes still & quiet and relaxed
*Please note that the above preparation is way more than is done at a Doctor's office which on the fly, they don't ask you to take a deep breath or to relax for a minute or 2 min. before taking your BP
Background: A recent tele doc app't where I was prescribed anti-high blood pressure medicine at the end, revealed that my doctor said the CVS pharmacy blood pressure machines are much less accurate than the BP cuffs you use at home, because the ones at the pharmacy have to be calibrated and have people of different sizes use them.
Reading #1: 142/94 (taken on 11/26/22 at 9:40 am)
Reading #2: 139/92 (taken on 11/26/22 at 12:10 pm)
Reading #3: 139/92 (taken on 11/26/22 at 12:13 pm)
Reading #4: 145/96 (taken on 11/26/22 at 12:17 pm)
Reading #5: 147/93 (taken on 11/26/22 at 12:27 pm)
Reading #6: 142/88 (taken on 11/26/22 at 12:32 pm)
As you can see the BP ratings are somewhat Wide and Disparate (wide differences between each reading)
I said well, if this is the case, it might be Inherent in taking BP readings, right? So maybe I should take an Average?
*The average results are shown here:
Average: total all the systolic numbers and divide / by the 6 which is the number of readings = 854 systolic number divided by 6 (6 readings) = 142 systolic average
Ok so I have a 142 average after taking 6 readings in a relaxed environment with my feet flat on the floor, not crossed, relaxed for 5 minutes before, not talking, in a totally quiet environment
Main Question:
Is taking an average of the number of readings a good idea?---if your getting different readings, maybe an average would make things more accurate?
(I took an average of the Systolic #, but the other # (diastolic) came out to about 94, and the pulse rate per minute came out to an avg. of 70
Second, ancillary Question
Does the cuff wire tubing have to be 1 straight line? (My table is short)....I'd figure as long as my elbow is flat on the table, and the cuff is at the same level as my heart (and I can fit 2 fingers, my index & my mid finger in the sleeve) and have an Inch of space between the sharp bone of my elbow and the cuff, I'm Good to Go, right?
Putting it differently, the gray wire tube is not 1 straight extended line, but curved; that's not a problem, right? Because what may seem important is that the gray tube be on top of my forearm, right?
(pics attached).
Thanks so much, in advance, for any constructive help
NiceGuyResearcher
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