Blood pressure fluctuates constantly, single readings may mislead: expert
Cardiology professor Khaled Al-Nemer warns that single blood pressure readings can be misleading and recommends averaging multiple measurements.
Key Takeaways
AICardiology professor and arterial catheterization specialist Khaled Al-Nemer has emphasized that blood pressure levels fluctuate constantly.
Writing on X, Al-Nemer explained that blood pressure can change from moment to moment, so relying on a single reading may mislead patients into thinking their pressure is too high or too low. He advised taking two readings one minute apart each time, recording both, and then calculating their average.
Al-Nemer added that for an accurate assessment, patients should record two readings in the morning before taking medication or eating breakfast, calculate their average, and do the same in the evening. This process should be repeated for at least three days. The overall average of all readings is what doctors use to make clinical decisions.