The way you place your arm to take blood pressure makes a "huge difference" in your hypertension diagnosis, warns a new study. Researchers examined common arm placements and discovered that incorrect positioning often leads to inflated readings, potentially misdiagnosing millions of Americans with hypertension.
According to the guidelines, the patient's arm must be supported on a desk during assessment with the mid cuff positioned at the heart level. The researchers of the latest study examined how other common non-standard practices, such as resting the arm on the lap or allowing it to hang unsupported at the side, affect blood pressure readings.
