Blood pressure in both arms simultaneously

[Hbp200]

At the Hypertension Clinic where I both work and teach l have my students measure blood pressures in both arms simultaneously. This is done in order to compare the readings for differential of greater than 20/10 between arms. Also the artery sounds can be determined to be altered by arterial disease. I have posted a photograph of 2 students measuring the pressures in both arms simultaneously of my assistant Sally

[42boston]

At home most people only have one bp machine. Do the results you obtain vary much if you do the readings in different arms sequentially rather than in parallel?

[Hbp200 in reply to 42boston]

There are now available devices with dual cuffs that measure pressures in both arms simultaneously. Omron and Microlife make them. Simultaneous readings make diagnosis of artery disease clearer than separate arm readings