Today we are going to focus on possible factors that can affect the blood pressure readings. This topic is especially important for individuals who do not have a history of unstable blood pressure or individuals who have done everything possible to maintain a normal blood pressure, yet the BP readings still remains unstable.

In most cases, people diagnosed with blood pressure problems do suffer from other medical conditions and it is only in a few instances where other factors may be responsible for changes in blood pressure readings.

What can affect blood pressure? Here is a list of possible factors that can cause changes in blood pressure readings.

What Can Increase Blood Pressure
Age - As we age, the arteries becomes less elastic which can lead to slightly high blood pressure reading than usual.

• Exercises
• Stress - Responsible for stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system control the functions of vital signs like respiratory, BP and heart rate.
• Medications - Medications like atropine sulfate and epinephrine can lead to increased blood pressure.
• Time differences - Blood pressure is usually high in the late afternoon and early in the evening.

What Can Lower Blood Pressure

• Medications like beta blockers and ACE inhibitors (antihypertensive medications).
• Time variation - Blood pressure is usually lowest early in the morning.

Causes of False High Blood Pressure Readings

• Bladder cuff too narrow.
• Arm below the heart level.
• Arm is un supported (the arm should be supported and placed at the same level with the heart).
• Not having enough rest before taking the blood pressure.
• Bladder cuff wrapped too loosely or it is not even.
• If blood pressure is taken immediately after meal or when a person is smoking or under pain (should be taken 30 minutes after a meal).
• Repeating of blood pressure taking too quickly (false high systolic or false low diastolic readings).
• When the cuff is deflated too quickly (should be deflated at 2mm per sec). This leads to false low systolic or false high diastolic.

Causes of False Low BP Readings

• Blood pressure cuff too wide
• Arm above the level of the heart.
• Unable to identify the auscultatory gap (the first clear sound heard over the stethoscope is the systolic and the last clear sound is the diastolic reading).

The above are just other possible factors that can affect the blood pressure readings but it does not mean that all blood pressure changes should be associated with these factors. In most cases, changes in blood pressure is usually due to other underlying medical conditions. Consult your physician for further evaluation.

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