Want a more accurate blood pressure reading? Try lying down when it’s taken, new study suggests

Lying down whereas getting your blood pressure taken might end in a more accurate studying, in response to new findings introduced on the American Heart Association (AHA)’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2023 on Saturday in Boston. 

Researchers discovered that amongst folks with excessive blood pressure, the readings more precisely predicted future stroke, coronary heart points and demise when folks had been lying down in comparison with those that had been sitting, in response to a press launch from the AHA.

These are preliminary findings and haven’t but been revealed in a peer-reviewed medical journal, the AHA famous.

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Senior study researcher Dr. Stephen Juraschek — who’s additionally a common internist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and an affiliate professor at Harvard Medical School — stated within the launch that the findings, which he discovered shocking, might assist physicians higher determine sufferers who want therapy.

“Normal” blood pressure for adults is a systolic studying of lower than 120 mmHg and a diastolic studying beneath 80 mmHg, in response to the AHA and American College of Cardiology.

Blood pressure fluctuates all through the day, which is why nighttime measurements are most dependable, Juraschek stated.

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For this study, researchers analyzed the readings of 11,369 members within the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, who had their blood pressure taken each whereas in a supine place and a seated place.

The members, who averaged 54 years of age, had been adopted for a interval of 25-28 years. 

“Normal” blood pressure for adults is a systolic studying of lower than 120 mmHg and a diastolic studying beneath 80 mmHg, in response to the AHA and American College of Cardiology. (iStock)

Those with earlier coronary heart points or stroke had been excluded from the study. 

People who had excessive blood pressure solely whereas lying down had a 53% higher threat of growing coronary coronary heart illness, a 51% larger threat of coronary heart failure, a 62% larger threat of stroke and a 34% higher probability of all-cause mortality — in comparison with individuals who had regular blood pressure each whereas sitting and lying down.

Dr. Marc Siegel, scientific professor of medication at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not concerned within the analysis however shared touch upon its findings.

He stated this seems to be a “well-done study over many years.”

“There is previous research that high blood pressure taken at night correlates with heart disease and stroke,” Dr. Marc Siegel instructed Fox News Digital.  (iStock)

“There is previous research that high blood pressure taken at night correlates with heart disease and stroke,” he instructed Fox News Digital. “This is an extension of the same idea.”

When sitting or standing, gravity could decrease the blood pressure, leading to a studying that isn’t as accurate, Siegel famous.

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“Lying down is more consistent with your actual blood pressure, which predicts heart attack and stroke risk, both of which are higher when the blood pressure is high,” the physician added.

“This study suggests that supine blood pressure may be one explanation, as it has as much impact on long-term cardiovascular outcome as seated blood pressure,” stated Dr. Wanpen Vongpatanasin, a professor of medication at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, within the AHA’s press launch.

This close-up of a digital residence blood pressure monitor exhibits excessive diastolic and systolic numbers, representing an unhealthy way of life and doable hypertension. (iStock)

Vongpatanasin was not concerned within the study.

The findings recommend that physicians may miss excessive blood pressure in the event that they’re solely taking the measure from sufferers who’re in a seated place, Juraschek stated.

More analysis is required to verify this speculation, the physician added.

The findings recommend that physicians may miss excessive blood pressure in the event that they’re solely taking the measure from sufferers in a seated place. (iStock)

One limitation of the study is that sufferers had been lying down for about 20 minutes — which isn’t a typical incidence in a physician’s workplace.

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There may be different causes that contributed to the more accurate readings amongst supine sufferers, Juraschek famous, together with the truth that individuals are more relaxed whereas lying down and that fluids are distributed in another way in numerous positions.

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“I do think this is a simple enough assessment that people could be empowered to check on their own, and people could use it in screening as well,” Vongpatanasin added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the lead study creator for remark.