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Help with understanding my bp please!

Ellie_Finesse

Senior Member
Messages
192
Location
UK
I wonder if someone could help me understand a couple of my bp readings on a home bp and pulse machine please!

We have brought a bp and pulse machine, mainly for my husband as he has high bp. When testing it last night at my mums, my bp seemed considerably lower than everyone elses. Whilst everyone elses was around 137/70 something mine was 113/40 something.

So today I thought I would have another go and it was 102/45 in the morning and I did it again just now and it was 112/46. I don't seem to understand the readings, I have tried looking on internet and it appears the top number is normal and the bottom number is really low.

On the bp charts there are no examples of similar bp reading to me, so I have nothing to compare them too.

I would be really greatful if there is someone on PR, who understands it and could explain it to me please?

Thank you all in advance :)
 

lookinglass

Senior Member
Messages
115
Location
Tenerife
Those readings sound a lot like mine when I am having a crash. Also you will find that your BP will peak usually around midday with me, higher readings. If it gets much lower like 100 and you may feel faint, try sipping Coca-Cola with a teaspoon of salt. It helps. And lie down.
 

minkeygirl

But I Look So Good.
Messages
4,678
Location
Left Coast
Normal is 120/80. Eledtrolytes may help with low bp.
image.jpg
 

CFS_for_19_years

Hoarder of biscuits
Messages
2,396
Location
USA
Hi @Ellie_Finesse is the cuff you are using the right size for your arm? Too large of a cuff will result in inaccurate reading. And what position are you taking it, sitting, standing, or horizontal? This matters.

I agree here. Is your husband's bicep the same size as yours? If not, you might want to measure your bicep and buy a smaller cuff designed to work with the machine you purchased.

Of course if you're using a wrist model, then you don't need to do any measuring. I don't have any experience with wrist blood pressure monitors, but I would trust an upper arm monitor more than a wrist monitor.

Another avenue you could try is looking in the instructions for help with these types of questions and/or calling the manufacturer's customer support line during the week. I spoke with someone at Omron when I needed help getting the device to stop telling me the cuff wasn't on right, and the tips she gave me helped.
 

Ellie_Finesse

Senior Member
Messages
192
Location
UK
Hi @lookinglass thank you very much for the tip, I will remember that as I feel dizzy a lot. Usually its only mild and I can ignore mostly but there are times when its hard to ignore.

Thank you everyone for your replies! In answer to your questions about the cuff size, I am allost certain it is the right size, it deffinately isn't too big my mum as cery tiny arms and she said the resilts of her bp were about the same as when she gets it done at the doctors. Both my husband and mu dad said the same!

The first bp reading I told you about, I was sitting up and the other 2 readings I was lying down in bed. I was just curious to know whether my readings were normal if the top number is normal and bottom number is really low!

I read somewhere that its mainly the top number the doctors look at. Just to add, there has been a couple of times that its been mentioned that my bp isn't what they would normally expect for someone my size, age and fitness. Would that be correct?
 

lookinglass

Senior Member
Messages
115
Location
Tenerife
Hi @lookinglass thank you very much for the tip, I will remember that as I feel dizzy a lot. Usually its only mild and I can ignore mostly but there are times when its hard to ignore.

Thank you everyone for your replies! In answer to your questions about the cuff size, I am allost certain it is the right size, it deffinately isn't too big my mum as cery tiny arms and she said the resilts of her bp were about the same as when she gets it done at the doctors. Both my husband and mu dad said the same!

The first bp reading I told you about, I was sitting up and the other 2 readings I was lying down in bed. I was just curious to know whether my readings were normal if the top number is normal and bottom number is really low!

I read somewhere that its mainly the top number the doctors look at. Just to add, there has been a couple of times that its been mentioned that my bp isn't what they would normally expect for someone my size, age and fitness. Would that be correct?
I am sure those guys who commented on your readings know their stuff Ellie. They probably thought it was a bit low that's all. And that's like a lot of us when we crash.

The The
 

Ellie_Finesse

Senior Member
Messages
192
Location
UK
I am sure those guys who commented on your readings know their stuff Ellie. They probably thought it was a bit low that's all. And that's like a lot of us when we crash.

The The

I know that they know there stuff, which is why I thought I would ask you guys :)... It gets all too confusing, especially when in the graphs it doesn't explain my reading lol.... My brain then gets in a muddle trying to fathum it out :thumbdown:!

Thank you @lookinglass, am having a bad day today so have been in bed all day. Since Friday have started to feel peculiar, might explain the bp readings. Thx again :)
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
To get a measure you can realistically compare to any standard, you should sit in an upright chair with your feet down for at least 10 minutes. BP can vary a lot depending on position and recent activity. Once you have a standard measure, you can start looking up on the internet what your numbers might mean.

It's very common to have low BP with ME/CFS. You might want to do some reading about different types of dysautonomia. POTS (classical and hyperadrenergic) and NMH are seen in many PWME. There is an article here at PR to get you started. Treatment for orthostatic intolerance (OI) can make a big difference in functionality.
 

Ellie_Finesse

Senior Member
Messages
192
Location
UK
Thank you very much for the information @SOC and link, I will have a read of the article when my brain allows me to digest it :)
 

Jonathan Edwards

"Gibberish"
Messages
5,256
mine was 113/40 something.

So today I thought I would have another go and it was 102/45 in the morning and I did it again just now and it was 112/46.
I would be really greatful if there is someone on PR, who understands it and could explain it to me please?

Thank you all in advance :)

The top numbers you are getting (systolic) are very healthy and would not be expected to be associated with any symptoms - faintness of whatever.

The bottom number of 40ish looks like a measurement error. I say that because it would be very unusual for a real blood pressure to be 110/40. This would be called a collapsing pulse and in that situation the top figure is usually higher. It is just possible that you have a leaky aortic valve, which would give these figures. So I would advise you to get a professional - practice nurse or doctor, to check it with another machine. But I think it is more likely that this is a malfunction of the machine maybe due to the cuff not being placed right. Automatic BP machines are now pretty good but there are physical reasons why they can give artefacts.
 

Ellie_Finesse

Senior Member
Messages
192
Location
UK
The top numbers you are getting (systolic) are very healthy and would not be expected to be associated with any symptoms - faintness of whatever.

The bottom number of 40ish looks like a measurement error. I say that because it would be very unusual for a real blood pressure to be 110/40. This would be called a collapsing pulse and in that situation the top figure is usually higher. It is just possible that you have a leaky aortic valve, which would give these figures. So I would advise you to get a professional - practice nurse or doctor, to check it with another machine. But I think it is more likely that this is a malfunction of the machine maybe due to the cuff not being placed right. Automatic BP machines are now pretty good but there are physical reasons why they can give artefacts.

Thank you @Jonathan Edwards for the advice :) Machine malfunction explains why I couldn't find any information with those types of readings.

I am currently seeing a specialist in cardiology and respiratory medcine as they are testing me for sleep apnea. I have also been to doctors several times over last year having a ton of tests done, that includes my bp and ecg which inhad a year ago. They surely should of picked up a leaky aortic valve if it was that? So don't think I need to worry. :)
 

Jonathan Edwards

"Gibberish"
Messages
5,256
Thank you @Jonathan Edwards for the advice :) Machine malfunction explains why I couldn't find any information with those types of readings.

I am currently seeing a specialist in cardiology and respiratory medcine as they are testing me for sleep apnea. I have also been to doctors several times over last year having a ton of tests done, that includes my bp and ecg which inhad a year ago. They surely should of picked up a leaky aortic valve if it was that? So don't think I need to worry. :)

I guess I cannot totally exclude the possibility that things have changed but getting a severely leaky valve suddenly after having had normal BPs done by cardiology staff does seem pretty unlikely. It would be good to find out what is wrong with the machine to make sense of it all.