Blood Pressure Readings

Exactly. I'm very reassured that it's not just me!

Kate, I’m like you, I just avoid it, if I take it, it will be high, I’ll panic, it’ll be higher.
No way out.

Kate something similar happened to me and it took a long time before I was able to check it again at home. Now I just take it randomly when I’m not too worried about it.

I wish we'd never got the blooming machine. I took it regularly and it was fine. Then one day I took it and it was a bit higher than usual and I flew into a panic. Then it was going through the roof constantly. I don't take it now.

Same here Hetty! Ridiculous readings at the surgery, better at home, and acceptable 24hr monitor. When I’m particularly nervous I don’t take it for weeks on end.

Baggs:

'when you have relaxed for about ten minutes or so'

That's what I can't do!

I get ridiculous readings. They are better with the old-fashioned, hand pumped contraptions - and pretty normal when I've had the 24hr monitoring.

Being claustrophobic, I go into panic mode when my arm is squeezed. Taking more readings tends to increase, rather than reduce them. The 'normal' advice doesn't work for me. The longer I sit quietly, trying to relax - the higher it goes!

Whatever you do, don’t hold your breath. A surprising number do and it pushes up the reading. Rest your arm on a cushion and relax the muscles. Breath in through your nose to a count of 6 and out through your mouth to a count of 6.

I’ve been having my blood pressure checked regularly for over 20 years, I do it at home every Friday morning and record it on the MyGP app now.

AngBrew
I could have written that myself, I really don’t know what the answer is, even getting the damn thing out of the cupboard, even thinking about getting it out of the cupboard sends me into panic mode.

Readings should always be done when you have relaxed for about ten minutes or so first. Then it often makes sense to do several readings and average them.

I'm not sure one's heart rate (pulse) matters once you are rested, so long as it's within a normal range, which I think is quite large.

I'm terrified if that machine! As soon as I see it, I go to pieces and my BP shoots through the roof, even when I take it myself. So I take my medication and hope for the best.

I get horrific readings at surgery.
I have my own monitor. The first one I do after a few weeks' break is never good Second and subsequent excellent. Never believe the first reading . I monitor my own BP now as Doc appreciates readings at surgery will never be realistic

You are meant to do 2 as the second is more accurate. Practice. Nurses do 3 and take the lowest of the 3. The heart rate is not really relevant unless it is very fast.

PS I had a BP contraption that I had to wear for 24 hours from my GP.
I was then put on BP pills, now I am doing readings to see if the pills are working.

I’m the same, I’m doing a weeks worth of BP readings , take one reading - then 5 mins later do another, after a couple of days you should have calmed down and BP readings should have gone back to whatever is your ‘normal’.
I’m doing it morning and night, but wait for 30 minutes after having a hot drink.