does your blood pressure fluctuate all the time? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

alimac · 10-23-2008, 04:08 AM

I'm keeping a record of my bp at home as I'm 28, 16 weeks pregnant and have 'white coat syndrome'. When I go to the drs my pulse and bp shoot up (I think because of a memory of my dad in a cardio unit). When I'm at home my bp is fine. In fact it is now lower than it ever has been - generally 108/69. My only worry is that if I take it a couple of times in one sitting - to make sure the machine is working(!) the systolic can fluctuate a lot making me worry if there's something wrong with the machine. Can your bp fluctuate a lot even if you're sitting doing nothing?

marantz1935 · 10-23-2008, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alimac

Can your bp fluctuate a lot even if you're sitting doing nothing?

Hello,

It can if you feel a bit anxious about what numbers will show up on the monitors display. I've seen my own systole drop 19 points in a single sitting! Make sure you leave a least five minutes between readings.

Good luck.

Marantz.

ntbd · 10-25-2008, 11:17 PM

mine can sometimes fluctuate up to 10 points on readings taken one right after another. It drives me crazy.

I could then hand the same machine to somebody else and watch them get steady readings one after another.

For clinical trials, they generally take three readings: discarding the first and averaging the last two.

aether4 · 10-25-2008, 11:35 PM

How long are you waiting between readings? Actually taking your blood pressure will affect your reading for a short time because the baroreceptors will be trying to adjust.

I have a wide range on my blood pressure 50s/30s - 100/60, and the occasional odd readings where my diastolic will be in the 70s or 80s. Time of day, position, if I've had enough to drink , taken my medicine to keep my blood pressure up, and to a lesser degree - stress all affect how much of a range it will have.

AnnD · 10-26-2008, 12:09 AM

Not all home units are accurate. Next time you go to the doctors for your blood pressure take you home unit with you and use it after they take you BP at the doctors office then take yours to see if it is the same. Then you will know if yours is correct.... and no it shouldn't be fluctuating that much at the same sitting on the same arm.