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9 Surprising Factors You Didn’t Know Were Affecting Your Blood Pressure Reading

Are your blood pressure readings higher (or lower) than usual? This might be why.

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The way you sit

Next time the nurse tells you to hop up on the exam table so they can take your blood pressure, donโ€™t. โ€œWhen youโ€™re sitting like that with your feet dangling, youโ€™re almost between sitting and standing. This can affect your reading because your blood pressure is different when youโ€™re standing versus lying down,โ€ says Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Womenโ€™s Health at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. The proper position is seated in a chair with your back flat against the chair back and your feet flat on the floor (no crossing allowed!). Any good doctor should accept your request to sit in a chair instead of atop a crinkly exam table, she says.

Cropped Hand Of Person With Blood Pressure Gauge On Wooden TableMohd Hafiez Mohd Razali / EyeEm/Getty Images

How you hold your arm

If your arm isnโ€™t supported, blood pressure readings can get messed up. โ€œYour arm should be flat on a table or supported by the person taking your pressure, it shouldnโ€™t just be hanging in the air,โ€ says Dr. Goldberg. If your arm is too high or low, it can affect how hard your heart has to pump to keep blood flowing, which then affects your blood pressure.

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Your bathroom schedule

โ€œEmpty your bladder right before your exam,โ€ says Dr. Goldberg. โ€œA full bladder might raise your blood pressure.โ€ย These are moreย things doctors may not tell you about healthy blood pressure.

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Smoking

Smoking is never good for your blood pressure readings, especially right before a doctorโ€™s appointment. โ€œSmoking can raise your reading because it causes spasms of the arteries,โ€ says Dr. Goldberg. Ready to quit?

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Your dinner the night before

โ€œEating a salty meal the day or night before can temporarily lead to an elevated reading,โ€ says Dr. Goldberg. You should also be mindful of what you eat on the day of the exam; stick to a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of whole grains, lean protein, and fruits and veggies. Check out these otherย easy ways to lower the top blood pressure number. You’re welcome.

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The blood pressure cuff

When it comes to the cuff, you are Goldilocks and it has to fit just right. If itโ€™s too loose, you could get falsely low blood pressure readings; if itโ€™s too tight, your reading might be inaccurately higher. โ€œIf the cuff feels too tight before itโ€™s blown up, you know itโ€™s too tight. If itโ€™s falling off, you know itโ€™s too big,โ€ says Dr. Goldberg. Check out these expert-approved blood pressure monitors for at-home use.

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Your commute

A stressful trip to the doctor can throw your blood pressure reading way off once you actually get there. If traffic or crowded subways got your heart racing, ask to rest for five minutes before handing over your arm. โ€œI usually let my patients rest for a few minutes so they can get their blood pressure to a more normal level. My assistant even shuts off the light,โ€ Dr. Goldberg says. And if you’re looking to improve your blood pressure after you got your results, here areย 31 things you can do right now to avoid high blood pressure.

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How hydrated you are

Dehydration can lower your blood pressure readings, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids the day before and day of (and every other day, too). โ€œItโ€™s important we get an accurate assessment so we arenโ€™t over-treating or under-treating people,โ€ says Dr. Goldberg.

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Your small talk

Donโ€™t be rude, but if the person taking your blood pressure tries to make small talk, politely ask them to wait until after the reading. โ€œTalking can raise your blood pressure, so just chill out,โ€ says Dr. Goldberg. Make sure you know theย foods you should be eating to help to lower blood pressure naturally.

Alyssa Jung
Alyssa Jung is a writer and editor with extensive experience creating health and wellness content that resonates with readers. She freelanced for local publications in Upstate New York and spent three years as a newspaper reporter before moving to New York City to pursue a career in magazines. She is currently Senior Associate Editor at Prevention magazine and a contributor to Prevention.com. Previously she worked at Reader's Digest as an editor, writer, and health fact checker.