Waiting after exercise, using the correct cuff position and taking multiple readings can help improve accuracy
New Delhi, Oct 2026 : High blood pressure often develops without noticeable symptoms and remains one of the major risk factors for serious health conditions, including heart disease and stroke. The World Health Federation identifies hypertension as the leading single risk factor for death globally, contributing to a significant share of deaths associated with cardiovascular disease.
In India, high blood pressure is linked to around 1.6 million deaths every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). With many people now monitoring their blood pressure at home, ensuring that readings are taken correctly is important for obtaining a more reliable picture of cardiovascular health.
Neurologist and general physician Dr Priyanka Sehrawat, in an Instagram video shared on September 6, advised people to wait at least 30 minutes before checking their blood pressure if they have recently exercised, gone for a walk, eaten a meal, consumed caffeine or tea, smoked or consumed alcohol.
Checking blood pressure immediately after any of these activities can temporarily influence the reading and may not accurately reflect a person's usual blood pressure level.
Dr Sehrawat also advised people to take readings from the left arm and avoid relying on a single measurement. Instead, she recommended taking three readings and considering their average for a more dependable estimate.
The positioning and fit of the blood pressure cuff are equally important. The cuff should be placed around the arm correctly, with the arm positioned so that the cuff is at approximately heart level during the measurement.
The cuff should fit snugly but should not be excessively tight. According to Dr Sehrawat, it should be tight enough to allow two fingers to be comfortably placed underneath it.
Maintaining a consistent method each time blood pressure is checked can help reduce variations caused by incorrect positioning or recent physical and dietary activities.
For people regularly monitoring their blood pressure at home, following these simple precautions can make readings more consistent and useful. However, repeated unusually high or low readings should be discussed with a healthcare professional rather than interpreted in isolation.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Readers are advised to consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions based on the information provided.
