Whether you’ve been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or hypertension or just want to constantly keep track of your blood pressure, having a digital blood pressure monitor in your home is of great importance. Besides helping with early diagnosis and helping you track your health, monitoring your blood pressure at home also helps you cut health care costs and encourages better control.
These monitors are easy to use and the pressure monitoring process is almost entirely automatic. However, some home-based monitors can sometimes inflate twice, leaving you wondering if the monitor is broken and if the readings are correct. Stay with us as we answer this question and give you a few tips to get accurate blood pressure readings.
Is it Normal for Your Blood Pressure Monitor to Inflate Twice?
You may have noticed that your blood pressure monitor reinflates while using it. However, this doesn’t mean it’s broken or the ratings are wrong.
Blood pressure readings are made up of two values: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The systolic pressure, the number on top, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, contracting and pumping oxygen-rich blood to your blood vessels. The diastolic pressure, the number below, measures pressure when your heart is at rest or relaxed.
When taking your blood pressure, your systolic blood pressure is measured first. After it has been measured, your cuff reinflates to measure your diastolic blood pressure. Your blood pressure monitor measures this after your heart has been at rest for a few seconds.
The systolic reading is just as important as the diastolic reading. As one measures your blood pressure during a heart contraction and the other measures your blood pressure between contractions, both measurements should be discussed with your doctor.
Does the Size of Your Monitor’s Cuff Affect Your Reading?
Several factors influence the measurements of your blood pressure. One of the most vital factors is the size of your cuff. Your blood pressure readings highly correlate with the size of the cuff.
A cuff that is too large will provide incorrectly lowered readings, while a cuff that is too small will show incorrectly elevated readings. A cuff that is too large may also result in an overloading of the pump, causing an error message. To make choosing the right cuff easy, the American Medical Association has provided guidelines for choosing an ideally sized monitor cuff, depending on the arm’s circumference.
Tips for Accurate Use of Your Blood Pressure Monitor
We’ve established the importance of monitoring your blood pressure at home. However, choosing a monitor that fits you and is cleared by the FDA is essential. Below are some tips to help ensure that your blood pressure readings are accurate.
Check Your Blood Pressure Every Day
You should monitor your blood pressure twice every day. We recommend measuring it first in the morning before having your breakfast. The second measurement should be done in the evening.
Take the readings two or three times to ensure your results are foolproof. Your blood pressure measurements should be done at the same time each day, as blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day.
Check the Accuracy of Your Monitor
There are various home-based monitors on the market, and not everyone will be a fit. Have your healthcare provider look at your monitor and compare the readings given by the monitor to that of the monitor in their office. If the readings are similar, you may go on to use your monitor at home.
While you’re there, you should also have your healthcare provider watch you take your readings and correct you if you’re going about it the wrong way. Ensure you have your heart pressure monitor checked if you drop or damage it before using it.
Sit Quietly
While taking your blood pressure measurements, you must sit quietly, making little or no movements or sounds. Before taking your readings, sit comfortably for three to five minutes with your back resting against a chair and your legs uncrossed. Try to be calm – inwardly and outwardly – and avoid thinking of stressful things.
Avoid Measuring Your Blood Pressure Immediately After Waking Up
Blood pressure increases when we first wake up due to the body’s normal circadian rhythm. Consequently, measuring your blood pressure right after you wake up may give you inaccurate results. You can go about your morning activities, but don’t exercise, take medications, or eat before checking your blood pressure. You can do these things after taking your readings.
Avoid Food, Tobacco, Caffeine, and Alcohol before Measuring Your Blood Pressure
Avoid eating for at least 30 minutes before taking a reading, as digesting food can lower your blood pressure. You should also avoid tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol for at least 30 minutes before checking your blood pressure, as these substances can increase your blood pressure. Before measuring your blood pressure, empty your bladder first. A full bladder can give you an elevated reading.
Ensure Your Arm Is Well Positioned
The position of your arm is important when measuring your blood pressure. Place your arm on a chair arm, desk, or table, ensuring it’s raised at heart level. You may use a pillow to raise it if you need to. Moreover, always use the same arm when taking your blood pressure.
Keep a Record of Your Measurements
Your monitor may automatically log your blood pressure readings. However, if you’re using a monitor that doesn’t do this, write down your readings in a notebook or record them on a mobile device or computer. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any unusual increases in your blood pressure.
Conclusion
Your blood pressure monitor inflates twice, not because it is acting weird but because it is designed to do so. A proper blood pressure reading consists of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. When measuring your blood pressure, the systolic blood pressure is measured first. Your cuff then reinflates to measure your diastolic blood pressure.
Although your monitor may inflate twice, this does not guarantee an accurate reading. We provided a few tips to get accurate blood pressure readings, and we strongly advise that you see a healthcare provider if you notice any unusual increases in your blood pressure.