Study: Arm position affects accuracy of blood pressure readings

Blood pressure readings may not be accurate unless a person’s arm is positioned correctly.

A comparison of blood pressure readings taken while people held their arms three different ways: leaning on a surface, resting on the lap, or hanging by the side of the body, showed certain positions could lead to a significant increase in systolic pressure, the upper number in a blood pressure reading.

That’s according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The American Heart Association recommends that a patient’s arm should be supported to get an accurate reading.