Scientists have recently discovered that the most widely used method for measuring blood pressure, known as the “cuff method,” is often inaccurate.
This could mean that many people at risk of heart disease are not being diagnosed correctly and may miss out on important, potentially life-saving treatments.
The cuff method involves placing an inflatable cuff around the upper arm. The cuff tightens to temporarily stop the blood flow, and then the pressure is measured as the cuff loosens.
While this method is quick and easy, it might not always give a true picture of a person’s blood pressure, especially for those with readings that fall within a mid-range.
To understand this better, researchers looked at data from studies spanning several decades, starting from the 1950s. They focused on over 2,500 people whose blood pressure was measured using the cuff method.
These readings were then compared with those obtained from the “gold standard” method—known as invasive blood pressure measurement.
The invasive method directly measures blood pressure from inside the arteries, providing more accurate results, especially from the major artery near the heart called the aorta.
Blood pressure readings can vary depending on where they are taken in the body. For example, the pressure in the arteries of the arm might differ significantly from the pressure in the aorta, which is closer to the heart.
The aorta’s pressure is a more reliable indicator of the stress on vital organs like the heart and brain. Sometimes, the difference in blood pressure readings between the arm and the aorta can be as much as 25 mmHg.
Such a difference can lead to very different decisions when it comes to diagnosing and treating high blood pressure.
The study found that the cuff method works reasonably well for people at the extreme ends of the blood pressure spectrum.
For those with very low blood pressure (below 120/80 mmHg) or very high blood pressure (160/100 mmHg or higher), the cuff method was accurate about 80% of the time, whether the readings were compared with the arm or the aorta. This means that for these groups, the cuff method is fairly reliable.
However, for people whose blood pressure falls within the more common mid-range—systolic readings between 120 and 159 mmHg and diastolic readings between 80 and 99 mmHg—the accuracy of the cuff method drops significantly.
The study showed that the cuff method’s accuracy for these mid-range readings was only between 50% and 57% when compared with the more accurate invasive method.
This is concerning because it suggests that for many people, especially those in this mid-range, the cuff method might not provide an accurate reflection of their true blood pressure.
As a result, these individuals might not receive the correct diagnosis or the appropriate treatment they need to manage their blood pressure effectively.
Despite these findings, the researchers emphasize that the cuff method is still valuable, particularly because it is easy to use and accessible.
However, they suggest that more accurate methods for measuring blood pressure could help doctors make better decisions and potentially save more lives.
High blood pressure is a serious condition that increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other vascular diseases. Therefore, it’s crucial to measure and manage it correctly.
Although the cuff method has its limitations, it is still widely used, and large clinical trials have shown that lowering high blood pressure with medication can significantly reduce the risk of these serious health issues.
If you are concerned about your blood pressure, it’s worth staying informed about the latest research and considering lifestyle changes that might help. For example, some studies suggest that fasting or early time-restricted eating might help lower blood pressure.
Additionally, there is ongoing research into other methods, such as how vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
The study that revealed these findings was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, highlighting the need for continued research into more accurate ways of measuring and managing blood pressure.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
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