Wellness

[on the bay]

I guess this is something we all should be aware of, though this is the first time I ever heard of it.-

From Mayo Clinic, UK drs and other sources-

"Generally, a small difference in blood pressure readings between arms isn't a health concern. However, a difference of more than 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for either your top number (systolic pressure) or bottom number (diastolic) may be a sign of blocked arteries in the arms, diabetes or other health problem.

A large difference in blood pressure measurement between your arms may be a sign of a health problem, such as:

• Blocked arteries in your arms (peripheral artery disease)
• Cognitive decline
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Heart defect

If you have a large difference in blood pressure readings between arms, talk to your doctor. If your blood pressure is higher in one arm, your doctor will probably use that arm to measure your blood pressure in the future."

[Valstybaby]

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@on the bay wrote:

I guess this is something we all should be aware of, though this is the first time I ever heard of it.-

From Mayo Clinic, UK drs and other sources-

"Generally, a small difference in blood pressure readings between arms isn't a health concern. However, a difference of more than 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for either your top number (systolic pressure) or bottom number (diastolic) may be a sign of blocked arteries in the arms, diabetes or other health problem.

A large difference in blood pressure measurement between your arms may be a sign of a health problem, such as:

• Blocked arteries in your arms (peripheral artery disease)
• Cognitive decline
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Heart defect

If you have a large difference in blood pressure readings between arms, talk to your doctor. If your blood pressure is higher in one arm, your doctor will probably use that arm to measure your blood pressure in the future."

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Thank you. Didn't know that either.

[Jersey Born]

I have to say that if this is true (and I have no reason to suspect it is false), then common medical practice should be to take two blood pressure readings at each office visit-- one  for the right arm and one for the left.  That would spare many people worse problems down the road.  Imagine being told to immediately start eating a much healthier diet and losing weight and also to get proper diagnostic testing in the present, before a medical crisis emerges?

[MalteseMomma]

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@Jersey Born wrote:

I have to say that if this is true (and I have no reason to suspect it is false), then common medical practice should be to take two blood pressure readings at each office visit-- one  for the right arm and one for the left.  That would spare many people worse problems down the road.  Imagine being told to immediately start eating a much healthier diet and losing weight and also to get proper diagnostic testing in the present, before a medical crisis emerges?

@Jersey Born 

I always wondered why my Nurse Prac. does that every time she comes..........now I know .

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[on the bay]

@MalteseMomma -

that is so good that your NP already does that and is up on things that should be done. I've never had any dr or nurse do this so good for her!

[hckynut]

@on the bay 

Good information to share with others. My Cardiologist told me about this after my 1st heart attack on July 5, 2003. Like other things that people can self monitor, these things seem to be little known to the general public.

I was home alone when I had my 2nd heart attack. I first checked my oxygen saturation level with my oximeter, because it is faster. I then checked my BP in my left arm than my right arm. My right arm BP did not register and I called 911. 

As with my 1st heart attack, my Right Coronary Artery was 100% blocked. The zero reading pretty much spelled that out for me. Had I not had my BP monitor I would not have been able to know for sure I was in the midst of a heart attack. 

hckynut