Have Some Louisiana Doctors Been Measuring Blood Pressure All Wrong This Whole Time?

If you or someone you know gets their blood pressure taken regularly, this is definitely important information that needs to be known sooner rather than later.

The results of a 30-year-long study conducted by the American Heart Association on high blood pressure were just released and the findings are concerning. If you have ever had your blood pressure taken at the doctor's office you were most likely sitting upright. This new study found that doctors may miss "certain health complications" if the patient is not lying on their back when getting their blood pressure taken.

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In most cases, patients have their blood pressure taken sitting upright. According to Duc M. Giao, the researcher leading this study found that if blood pressure is only measured seated upright cardiovascular disease can't be detected properly.

If blood pressure is only measured while people are seated upright, cardiovascular disease risk may be missed if not measured also while they are lying supine on their backs

Researchers examined 11,369 middle-aged adults and based on their findings suggested people with known risk factors for heart disease and stroke should have their blood pressure checked while lying flat on their backs according to Giao. The people from the Atherosclerosis Risk Communities (ARIC) who had their blood pressure taken this way revealed "elevated risks of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and premature death".

Our findings suggest people with known risk factors for heart disease and stroke may benefit from having their blood pressure checked while lying flat on their backs

The human body is unable to regulate blood pressure in some cases when someone is lying down, seated, or standing. The pull of gravity may prompt blood to pool while seated or upright so researchers are recommending people with known risk factors of heart disease and stroke have their blood pressure taken while lying on their backs.