Visit a doctor s office for almost anything that ails you and the chances are good you will have your blood pressure measured. That s because it is an essential diagnostic procedure to detect a common condition that puts people at risk of heart and kidney disease. Considering that millions of people have their blood pressure checked every day, it is surprising that this measurement can be so tricky.
Mistakes are common and the consequences of inaccuracies can be serious.
Drugs can be expensive and may have unpleasant side effects, such as dizziness, fatigue, impotence, cough or swollen feet. This puts people at risk of heart attacks, strokes or kidney disease. A cuff that is too small for a large arm can result in a blood pressure reading higher than it should be. Another potential problem is talking. Not infrequently a nurse or physician taking blood pressure will strike up a conversation, thinking that it may put the patient at ease.