Different arms BP

[Igor]

Hello everybody. I am 13+ months post op and just discovered that my bp is different on left and right arms.
It's usually 5-10 mmHg higher on my right arm. I wonder if anybody has something like that.

 

[Nancy]

I think that's pretty much normal. If you want to have some more fun, try your legs. Sometimes blood pressure is taken there also.

I can't tell you why it is so, maybe because one arm gets used more and has more muscle tone, thus more bloodflow?? Just a guess.

Some of you nurses out there--what's the deal?

 

[lemdonuts]

They say B?P is suppose to be same

They say B?P is suppose to be same

in both arms but the day of my cath right was 172 something and left was 198 something ... and this not the only time this has happened!!

 

[Ross]

It's pretty much normal. You'll get different readings if you stand up vs sitting down too. Try each arm in each position and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Nancy]

I just looked up several sites, and if your arm isn't in a supported position at heart level, the measurement could be inaccurate, also if you had smoked or had alcohol 15 minutes prior, or were crossing your legs (?), flexing your arm or hand muscles, talking while it is being taken, or rushing around before.

Lots of things can affect it.

Most sites mentioned that pressure could be slightly different in each arm. One site mentioned that when taking it to note which arm was used, and if the patient was sitting or standing. Another site said to use the arm which was the higher of the two.

Oh yes, one more important thing--one site mentioned to make sure to clean the ear wax out of the ear pieces before taking your blood pressure. I'm not kidding! : ) : )

 

[Igor]

does anybody have a bp test device?

does anybody have a bp test device?

Nancy, thanks for checking this on internet.
I had my blood pressure tested yesterday at the coumadin clinic appointment and found it a bit elevated when the nurse checked it on the right arm.
So when I got home I tested on both arms a couple of times and it was about 10 mmHg different.
Then this morning I searched the internet and have found some not such positive explanations it, after which I spent at least a half an hour testing.
I've tried everything (seating, standing, crossing legs and not crossing legs and the BP was consistently higher on my right arm by 5 -12 mmHg.

I'll call my cardiologist on Monday to check his knowledge in this area.
I was just wondering if anybody has a bp test device at home and can check bp on both arms.

 

[Ross]

Igor I do and test different in both arms all the time. Not going to worry about it. It's not worth it.

 

[ccrawford]

I bet the side with the pretty nurse on it always turns out to be the high one !

 

[Igor]

good explanation

good explanation

I did not think about this one
I will make sure she (the nurse) is on the left side next time my bp is checked

Thanks for all your replies on Saturday evening.

 

[sylviayasgur]

interesting you should mention this... now i'm curious too.
whenever i go to the cardio or joey does, he takes bp in both arms.
never asked about it before, but am sure going to do so next time.

 

[hensylee]

Igor - a month ago I was hospitalized for surgery and managed to get pneumonia right after the surgery. Because of the illness, my blood pressure dropped considerably and bp meds were removed from my regimen. At discharge, the surgeon did not tell me to resume bp meds, so once at home, I started taking my bp every day to make sure it was not rising. One morning it was 97 over something - scared me. So I took it in the other arm and it was 109 over something. Quite a difference in the two arms. It is generally not the same in each arm. Dr Rich in about.com addressed this subject once upon a time and confirmed that it isn't the same. So, not to worry. God bless

 

[Creed3]

BP

BP

Hi Everyone!
I remember the summer before my surgery, I didn't even realize I had a problem yet, but when I would take my blood pressure, it was always about 10 to 20 pts lower in the left arm. When I asked the nurse at my pcp's she told me that unless it is consistently 20 pts lower, that it is pretty normal for bp to be lower in the left arm. I then found out shortly there after there was a problem. Could have been why there was so much difference between left and right. Since having my surgery, my bp is much lower than before surgery, which is a good thing. I also have noticed that it is still a little lower in the left arm than the right, but not nearly as much difference as before. I had a doc also tell me that it is usually a little lower in the left arm because it takes less pressure to pump to the left side because it is closer to the heart etc...and that it is higher on the right because it takes more pressure to pump further away from the heart. I don't know if that is true or not, it was just what I was told. Everything I have read regarding different pressures in left and right arms say it is normal unless it is about 20 pts different. Like Nancy has said, there are many many things that can affect your pressures.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[taranjit]

My right arm is higher too!

My right arm is higher too!

I have this home BP device, which I actively use on both arms everyday... My right arm BP is 5-15 points higher than the left... I have never seen my right arm lower than the left.. in the bast case scenario, it is 5-7 points higher, and can be up to 15 or so higher than the left...

AND it is under the same set of conditions.. i.e. sitting, arms at the same level, legs and rest of the body at the same position, even swaping arms to ensure taking one arms before another would make any difference (e.g. on day 1 I will start with left arm first, day 2 right arm first)... I am good at doing experiments (being an engineer), and I know I have taken out all the factors out that can influence the readings... The bottom point after that - MY right BP is 5-15 points higher than the left, ALWAYS...

I am pre-op....

If you find more info about this please let me know..

It probably is normal... just that most people do not do this type of measurements...

 

[Granbonny]

Home b/p device

Home b/p device

I sit at dining room table with left arm level with heart....When I go to my PCP..they take it crazy..arm down..arm up ect...I really don't think they care..In too much of a hurry.. Whatever happen to years ago..when they said b/p should be 100 plus your age? so mine should be 163/ ?..it is the lower side they worry about..and mine is always around the 80 mark.. Bonnie

 

[hensylee]

They have set new guidelines as to what is high and what is prehypertensive - I found this today in WebMD:

New Blood Pressure Guidelines
Classification:
Systolic (top number)

Diastolic (bottom number)

Normal 120 or lower AND 80 or lower

Prehypertensive 120 - 139 OR 80 - 89

High 140 and higher OR 90 and higher

Blood pressure can be managed through lifestyle changes.

 

[nadi]

Different Numbers

Different Numbers

I had my 1st cardiac appt today and they took my B/P both arms sitting and standing and each one was different! My left side was higher both ways and standing was higher on both sides.
Right side sitting 122/80 standing 124/84
Left side: sitting 124/86 and standing 132/86
The nurse was not concerned, she said it could have been different for several reason. 1) nervousness 2) cuff too tight 3) cuff pumped back up to soon. 4) being warm or cold. ( it was hot today 95 heat index 105 )