| Re: Make sure they take your bp correctly!
Some doctors label patients as hypertensive based on only one office blood pressure reading. That is really scary.
They often ask patients questions while taking the blood pressure measurement. That is wrong. No conversation should be taking place as it can affect the reading. While the technique used might be correct, if the cuff isn't the right size, the blood pressure reading will be overestimated or underestimated. If too small a cuff is used, blood pressure can be overestimated by as much as 20mmHg. This is why some doctors (including one of mine) use a measuring tape to check the arm's circumference before selecting an appropriately sized cuff. A good fit is imperative for an accurate blood pressure measurement.
Many doctors are too rushed to take the blood pressure measurement correctly. That is unfortunate because quite often important decisions are made based on those readings.
| 
