Blood pressure
Published April 14, 2024 | 
As your doctor unwraps the blood-pressure cuff from your arm, you wait for “Your Blood Pressure Numbers,” as though they were writ in stone. But there’s a good chance your blood-pressure reading is way off the mark, according to recent research. Here are the six most common blood-pressure-raising culprits:
1. Caffeine. A cup of java within 30 minutes of your blood-pressure test can make that pressure gauge jump. If your appointment is in the morning, make a point of skipping your morning coffee or tea.
2. Full bladder. Believe it or not, a full bladder can cause a blood-pressure spike. Be sure to make a pre-appointment rest stop.
3. Talking. Talking-about anything-can elevate blood pressure. Skip the small talk once the cuff is donned.
4. The doctor. A jump in blood pressure caused by anxiety related to the doctor himself is such a common phenomenon it’s even got its own medical name: white-coat hypertension. Two solutions: (1) Have a nurse take your pressure reading or (2) ask your doctor to take a reading again at the end of your appointment-when anxiety is often lower.
5. Cuff too small. If you’re a big man, or a man with big biceps, you probably need a large cuff. Often, though, the doctor or nurse uses a regular-size one. The result: a skewed reading. Try sliding two fingers under the cuff as soon as it’s put on: If they don’t fit, ask for a larger size.
6. Lack of back support. An unsupported back makes muscles contract, thereby raising your pressure. Be sure to sit in a straight-backed chair at your next reading.