Do you remove the cuff from your arm between blood pressure readings?

[Robbie1964]

For anyone who takes 2 or 3 measurements when taking blood pressure readings, do you remove the cuff from your arm for a short while between blood pressure readings? Also, how long do you leave between each reading?

When I measure my blood pressure I usually take three readings, each spaced about 2 minutes apart. The first reading is usually the highest and the advice I have been given is to ignore the first reading and average out the second and third. I don't normally remove the cuff from my arm while doing all three readings. I've just bought a new blood pressure monitor (same model as the previous one, just with a different style of cuff) and am finding sometimes the cuff can get tight by the third reading and this is actually causing the third reading to be higher than the second.

I'm just curious if anyone does remove the cuff for, say, 30 seconds, between readings.

[Robbie1964]

Thanks for the reply.

I don't get a cuff error. It's just the cuff gets quite tight when I'm doing the third reading. It's a new cuff so maybe that is playing a part.

[Molben]

There is no need to remove the cuff. The cuff will inflate more as your Bp goes higher. It may not be that the cuff is causing the Bp to be higher on the 3rd reading but your Bp is actually higher. You are perhaps are being preemptive of the the cuff going tight and this could cause your Bp to increase. I would not read too much into it, just take the best of the 3 readings. Hope this helps.

[gilreid1]

I would say no. The machine I use has a setting for single or triple readings. When taking three they are fifteen seconds apart.

[Harefieldfan]

Hi Robbie. I don’t remove it and neither does the GP when I have it done at the surgery.

[Hidden]

I too have found the first reading higher, but that's probably because I've only just sat down to start taking them.

I always keep the cuff on between readings and BP seems to go down with each attempt.

As to timing, I find the longer between readings gives lower BPs. Personally, being impatient I generally just restart the thing without waiting, but keep trying until I get consistent results.

As others have said, ignore the first reading anyway and average out the last three

[Palpman]

Don't apply the cuff on tightly. When it has finished the reading it will open to atmosphere so should be loose when done and not tight at all.

[Qualipop]

I leave it 5 minutes before doing a second reading and just make sure the cuff has deflated. It is possible that you are just getting slightly anxious by the third reading which will increase your BP