Why does the doctor take only 1 bp reading?
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Apr 19 2007
Q: One of the tips from RESPeRATE is to average three checks of blood pressure. Sounds good to me. So why, when I go to the doctor, does he only take one measurement and makes decisions on this one measurement?
A: When an initial blood pressure reading is normal at a doctor visit, for the sake of time, it is usually just recorded on the chart. With repeated visits, multiple blood pressure readings end up being recorded so the doctor has a clear idea of what your blood pressure is doing. With an abnormal initial reading, doctors have their own protocol. Some will wait 15-20 minutes to recheck your pressure. Others will want you to schedule several return visits just for a blood pressure check.
Subscribe to comments
