Blood Pressure

[Mexican18]

Yesterday my BP was 147 over 84.Today it is 147 over 93.How can the lower numbers be so different?

[Jackdaw33]

Easy if you are using a home BP kit. With mine I can take 3 consecutive readings, all different.

[ummmm]

It can vary quite a bit. I generally suffer with low blood pressure and I'm told I need to keep my fluids up if I feel it's dropping (not alcohol or caffeine though, mores the pity)

I had to go for a procedure recently and I was very nervous. It was the highest I'd ever seen it. After the procedure it started dropping straight away.

[Jackdaw33]

Just taken two readings within 30 seconds.

1) 116/84
2) 119/78

[ummmm]

Good readings, Jack.

When I was in hospital they were more interested in the top reading.

[Jackdaw33]

The ideal figure is 120/80 but 20 units either way is fine.

[Jackdaw33]

Same with me ummm. If the systolic dipped below 100 I would get the usual mantra, "You must drink more water".

[ummmm]

They said I could drink any fluid besides the ones I mentioned.

When I went to see my GP after my stay in hospital it was 78/26...which seemed to really scare her :-)

[Hopkirk]

Jack a lower figure f 100 would not be alright.

[Jackdaw33]

//When I went to see my GP after my stay in hospital it was 78/26...which seemed to really scare her :-)\\

i'm not surprised. I would be scared too.

[Jackdaw33]

My GP still uses one of the old-fashioned sphygmamometers even though she has to hide it when the inspectors come round as mercury is not allowed in the surgery even though it's in a sealed glass tube. She insists that it gives a much more accurate reading than the electric ones.

[Peter Pedant]

this is not a significant difference

jackdaw is right abou the normal bp
BUT in the old and most ABer are sagging at the edges - the normal systolic ( big no) is 100+age
( so my normal is 170)

diastolic ( lower number shouldnt be above 90 and at 100 is EEK!)

[Togo]

Got me thinking here...….so I did mine. I "promised" to do it regularly aggggeeess ago and keep forgetting. 120 over 60. After a very busy day and a glass of Shiraz. Heart rate 54. Age 70. Will take that.

[Peter Pedant]

lower blood pressure in older life associated with longevity

[jno]

i fear mine may be associated with shortevity, PP.

But yes, readings can be all over the place. Try doing it same time every day, same arm, and see how they average out.