Uff-Da!

Everyone's blood pressure changes all the time. Exercise and stress make it go up. For most people sleeping makes it go down. Drinking caffeine often makes it go up. For some people, especially the elderly, eating makes it go down. So naturally your readings will vary some from time to time. For example, if you are stressed out about something and got inadequate sleep the night before, you are likely to have higher readings than on a day where you are properly rested and relaxed. Time of day also makes a difference. A lot of people have a higher blood pressure for an hour or two after they get up in the morning than they do later in the day.

Single blood pressure readings don't mean too much unless they are extreme one way or the other, like 88/56 or 220/130. Be sure you have been seated quietly at least five minutes when you take your pressure. Record your pressures and you might want to make note of any special circumstances, like "really stressed out today" or "only slept three hours last night." An average of your readings over time, like a month or so, gives you a much better picture of what your pressure really is than just a few readings. And the special notes may help you to see how you, as an individual, are affected by such things as stress, because we don't all react alike.

I personally have a blood pressure that can suddenly jump up 20 points systolic if I read the horrible news or talk to someone on the phone if I don't wait at least five minutes to "rest" afterwards before taking the reading. And I can sometimes make my SBP drop by up to 20 points just by taking a few deep breaths. I had one day about a month ago when my resting systolic readings ranged all the way from 93 to 161. Admittedly, that is extreme.