24Hr Bp Cuff

[kylesmum]

I have one on today, deep joy :(

However as my BP is being taken every 30 minutes it has become a slight obsession with me today :)

Were you aware how much your BP shoots up after eating ?

I wasn't, and after a fairly relaxing and successful day I was astonished to see how much it leapt up after I had a bowl of soup.Just to make extra sure, I waited until I had a low reading then had a little healthy munchie and again, it leapt up incredibly, by 40pts (?) on the top scale !

Might be worth considering if you are going to have your BP tested.

Not a Q, just thought it may be of interest to people :)

[MadMen]

Sod that! There's no way I'd be able to look at it, I'd have to cover it over at all times. It'd be sure to send me into a massive panic if I saw it increase.

[kylesmum]

I almost passed out the first reading, I dont jest but thankfully I managed to link it in , not difficult in 30min spurts.

I'm astonished people aren't warned not to eat prior to a BP test, its surely cant be a true reading if you've just eaten ?

[MadMen]

I've got a doctors appointment in the morning, where they'll be sure to do my BP. I'll remember not to eat anything prior to going.
Yeah, I can imagine the horror at seeing it go sky high! :-(

[Sammy48]

kylesmum, I had a BP 24 hour thingy done about a year ago, I couldn't see the reading and only found out after the hospital sent results to my gp.

[kylesmum]

I've just had another reading and it has reduced by 20, my digestion must be slow ! It had been very good, for me so far, prior to eating.

I'm only on the cuff so it can be confirmed it's 'whitecoat syndrome'.

I'm scared to eat now in case i'm put on medication !

Good Luck at the Docs MadMen, let me know how you get on, we can exchange notes as I have to go back tomorrow, starving with hunger at this stage :)

[MadMen]

Ah, my GP reckons that's what I have - 'white coat syndrome'. It's sky high whenever I get it done at the docs, or when I had it prior to having my wisdom teeth out, but when my sister did it for me at her home, it was absolutely fine.

Good luck for tomorrow. Do post again and let us know how you got on :-)

[kylesmum]

Hi Sammy :)

I can see the readings, I have had a few 'error' readings but in the main it has behaved.I only saw the Practice Nurse today, it wasn't via the Hospital.It's an awkward thing to carry about, i've really not been able to do an awful lot today, keeps slipping out my sweatshirt pocket plus the rubber lead looks dodgy, had to explain to the Postie as she clearly noticed lol

I'm glad i've found this out though, I shall ask about this tomorrow and i'll let you all know.

[kylesmum]

Thanks Madmen..will do.

I'm the same as you, I ought to be hospitalised at the rate mine rises to at the Docs or Nurse but I have 'history' , not bad, but enough for them to realise i'm anxious even although I try to look perfectly calm :)

[lcg]

your bp raises when you eat due to all the blood being pushed and pulled around in your stomach and intestines during digestion. it will also raise after you have a cup of tea, a cigarette (if you smoke) or when you are watching it - people become quite anxious about their bp and this automatically raises it. try to relax where possible and distract yourself by reading/watching the telly when you are not doing all the things you need to today. when i take patient's bp, we always have to be aware of what they have been up to beforehand!

[Sqad]

Yes...BP does vary during the day for various reasons and this varies from person to person.

As far as BP change following eating, this again may vary...higher or indeed lower.

White Coat syndrome?............I am not a fan.

A 24 hour monitor or BP readings 3 times a day done at the same time, will "iron out" any idiosyncrasies.

[kylesmum]

Thats amazing lcg, I seriously had no idea until I sussed it out today.Too much time on my hands ! That's the reason I posted as i'm not sure a lot of people would be aware of this.I dont smoke and I wont be eating until I can take this off.

I wonder why it's not made common knowledge, i'm sure I wouldn't have eaten prior to a test given how high it rocketed for me which ties in nicely with Sqads take on the 'whitecoat syndrome' which would explain why a lot of people have raised BP when they go to their GP, it may not be anxiety at all, someone might just simply have had their breakfast !!

That's taken 90 mins for my BP to reduce to the level it was before I ate.

I'm actually quite astonished.

[kylesmum]

Missed that lcg, i'm glad that you are aware.I have never been asked anything prior to a BP test, wish I had been now.

Im watching the tele or have relaxed into a beach scenario when it has triggered.Just alternate due to boredom lol.

Thanks for your answer, very informative :)

[lcg]

You should always be asked what you have been up to! I always have to. Tell people I have usually cycled to appointments as they. Never ask, but my. Bp is. Sky high. Sorry about the typos.....using my new tab for the. First. Time!!!!! X

[kylesmum]

I was too nervous this morning as she made a hatchet job of simply applying a cuff, the cuff seriously deflated and inflated 5 times until I virtually screamed at her i'd rather be on medication for life than suffer this pain.My hand was purple and I swear a vein was ready to burst.
Transpires she had fitted it incorrectly (?) and the reason it did that was because it was looking for a pulse, which clearly it couldn't find.

I shall have my wits about me tomorrow and i'll ask her all abut the things i've raised here along with the info you provided.

BTW...remind me never to get a tablet lol x

[MadMen]

Kylesmum, how did you get on with your BP?
:-)

[kylesmum]

Hi MadMen :) Its just slightly higher than they would want, seeing GP on Monday to discuss, hoping I can manage to reduce it by exercise and diet.

I mentioned to the Practice Nurse in the passing how it raised when I ate , she looked bemused and said she sees no corrolation between eating and BP.Felt like directing her here and google :)

She's not someone who interacts, i'll save it for my GP on Monday.Thanks for asking :)

How did you get on today ?

[DaisyNonna]

At my surgery it is accepted that most patients will take their own blood pressure readings at a machine in front of the reception desk, in full view of everybody and 1 foot from the full length window.
Have declined as I am sure my BP would go sky high from embarrassment.
Thoughts?

[sara3]

why would that be embarrassing?