In hypertension Such errors should always be avoided when measuring blood pressure

World Hypertension Day: Avoid common mistakes when measuring blood pressure

Regular blood pressure measurement is part of the therapy and control of hypertension. In many cases, the measurement is carried out incorrectly, as the German High Pressure League (DHL) warned at an event on World Hypertension Day on May 17. The league also recalled the importance of blood pressure control. In the future, the high-pressure league will offer virtual support groups for patients.

Regular blood pressure measurement at home provides the physician with important information for the treatment of high blood pressure. If the physician measures the blood pressure in practice, the values ​​are often higher than with the self-measurement at home. This may be due to the nervousness at the doctor's visit. Even at the sight of the white coat, the blood pressure rises. The phenomenon is also known as "white kittele ekt". About every fifth doctor's measurement is affected. Medication may be mistakenly prescribed.

However, it also happens that the practice blood pressure is below the actual values. This may be the case, for example, when the doctor's visit helps to relax from the stressful home environment. This effect is also called "masked hypertension". Almost every fifth measurement in practice is too low. Without house measurement, the excessively high values ​​are otherwise undiscovered.

The values ​​measured by you at home show your doctor how the blood pressure behaves over a longer period of time. This has advantages over the punctual measurement at the doctor.

10 sources of error and the correct measurement of blood pressure

1. Blood pressure measurement is usually a sit-down resting measurement. Physical or mental stress 30 min. avoid before the measurement.

if necessary extend the relaxation time. Sit on a chair and start the measurement after five minutes of rest.

2. Keep your arm steady during the measurement. You should not move your hand during the measurement. Your body must not be tense. Both feet should be on the ground. Lean back against the chair back. Do not speak during the measurement or be distracted by noise.

3. The blood pressure measurement can be falsified by the caffeine contained in the cheese or black tea. Drink them therefore after the blood pressure measurement. Avoid blood pressure measurement when the bladder is full.

4. Be sure to use the sleeve recommended by the manufacturer. The upper arm cuff should fit your upper arm circumference and cover about two-thirds of the upper arm.

5. Do not put the cuff too loose or too tight on the upper arm. Close the Velcro fastener properly so that it does not yield when inflated. The cuff should not be too tight for two cross-overs above the elbow, so that one finger fits easily under the closed cuff. Also observe the manufacturer's instructions for positioning the cuff.

6. Blood pressure measurement will result in incorrect readings when measured over a thicker pullover or jacket. Pushing up your clothes can lead to blood congestion and measurement errors. But you can easily put on the cuff over a thin blouse or a thin shirt.

7. It is important in wrist measurement that you keep your arm at heart level, otherwise the values ​​are too high / too low. Support the elbows on the table. Support the forearm with a suitable support to ensure smooth measurement.

8. A too frequent measurement falsifies the values ​​one after the other. Measure regularly at the same time. If you are taking (antihypertensive) medication, it is important to measure the blood pressure before taking the medication.

9. If your sphygmomanometer frequently displays an implausible value, an "Arrhythmia Alert" or "ERROR" during measurement, this may indicate irregular heartbeats. Agree with your doctor.

10. Use a validated device with a seal of approval of the Deutsche Hochdruckliga e.V., which will give you correct measured values.

Virtual meeting via Skype as an offer for high blood pressure patients

Concerned in virtual groups via Skype, similar people meet in self-help groups to follow short presentations by experts on the screen at fixed times. Targeted meetings are once a month. Interested people get a code for the dial-in and are then officially members of the virtual group. The meetings are a kind of "Skype conference". The image connection can, but does not have to be switched on. Further information is available from patients at the German Hypertension League. (Sb)