Universal blood pressure cuffs give inaccurate results – study
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Scientists have found that one-size-fits-all blood pressure cuffs can cause inaccurate results. For example, a large arm requires a larger cuff, otherwise it squeezes the blood vessels and the pressure becomes higher, reports CNN with reference to a study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. Blood pressure monitoring is used to diagnose hypertension, the leading cause of heart disease worldwide. Cuffs or sleeves that go around a person’s shoulder usually come in four sizes, from small to extra large. But often, only universal size cuffs are used to measure blood pressure in clinics. “Many children who come to me for hypertension often do not have their blood pressure measured with a cuff that is the right size for them. I found much lower blood pressure when I measured it on my own than what the patients were coming in with,” the author said. research and professor of pediatrics Dr. Tammy Brady. Photo: VitalikRadko/Depositphotos 195 people participated in the randomized trial. The experiment was conducted in Baltimore, USA. Their blood pressure was measured with cuffs of three sizes – standard, corresponding to the size of the hand, and too large or small. The study found that for patients using the smaller cuffs, the scores from the standard size were underestimated. Meanwhile, people who needed large or extra-large cuffs scored higher when measured with a regular cuff. For example, in the study, the average blood pressure for those who needed an extra-large cuff was 125/80: slightly elevated, but not alarmingly high. However, when these patients used a conventional cuff, their average blood pressure was 144/87, a level that correlates with stage two hypertension. According to study author Tammy Brady, this difference can completely change a doctor’s diagnosis of hypertension. It will be recalled that scientists recently discovered a connection between drops in blood pressure and a decrease in brain functions in the elderly. According to the results of the study, pressure drops can lead to dementia. Read also: Blood pressure is best reduced by two exercises – “plank” and squats. Research
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