A missing blood pressure reading that’s LIFESAVING?

When it comes to monitoring your blood pressure, it usually means whipping out the infamous blood pressure cuff… tearing that Velcro… and SQUEEZING for your systolic and diastolic pressure readings (the top and bottom numbers).

Do that consistently—over time—and chances are you’ll get a pretty darn accurate reading of where YOUR blood pressure actually stands.

But it’s not quite so cut-and-dry…

Because there’s ANOTHER blood pressure measure you may have not heard about it…

Your doctor may have even inadvertently forgotten about it…

But it could be one the MOST ACCURATE and one of the BEST INDICATORS of true blood pressure!

For the majority of blood pressure readings, doctors use the cuff and record those two, important numbers (your systolic and diastolic pressure).

Together, these are the pressure in the arteries when your heart rests between beats, and it’s called your peripheral blood pressure.

But there’s one problem…

It’s harder to read the older your get!

As you age, your blood vessels lose some flexibility and stiffen, making it difficult for your heart to pump—known as arterial stiffness. This can sometimes make conventional blood pressure readings inaccurate.

But central blood pressure is different… especially for folks with arterial stiffness.

First, unlike the traditional arm cuff, central blood pressure is measured with a tonometer—a small instrument shaped like a wand. This tonometer is placed on the skin over the brachial artery in the arm to measure the pulse.

Second (and most importantly)—unlike peripheral blood pressure—central blood pressure tests the pressure of your aorta (your heart’s large artery) which sends blood from the heart throughout the body.

Measuring this provides more clarity, especially if you have arterial stiffness. And the earlier you can detect arterial stiffness (which central blood pressure readings help do), the sooner you can take steps to stop a heart attack or stroke.

So, whether you have high blood pressure—or you’re due for a routine blood pressure reading—talk to your doctor about measuring central blood pressure. If he doesn’t have the necessary tools, he can easily refer you to a specialist that can perform the reading.

To using every tool in the arsenal,

Cory Templeman
Senior Editor, eAlert

PS – Speaking of underutilized tests, this afternoon we’ll be highlighting one of the most underutilized heart tests out there – and why it’s one of the most effective methods at detecting serious heart problems early.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. “Blood Pressure Measurement.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/25068-blood-pressure-measurement