Pressure measurement on both arms predicts death

Doctors and nurses need to measure blood pressure in patients with both hands rather than one. The researchers found that the difference in the interpretation of this indicator reported an increase in the risk of death of the patient in the next 10 years.

As shown by a small study, conducted among 230 residents of British Devon, who visited their general practitioners, the difference in reading blood pressure   between both hands can be a warning sign. This indicator tells the doctor that his patient has an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, from which he might die in the next 10 years.

The researchers observed patients with a mean age of 68 years. The observations lasted 10 years, during which almost 100 people suffered heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular disease or died. As is known, blood pressure It expressed by two numbers - the systolic and diastolic pressure. We found out that for each additional point of difference between the systolic blood pressure readings taken on the right and on the left hand, the risk of becoming a victim of nonfatal heart attack or stroke or die grew by 5-6%. At the same time, scientists carefully consider other risk factors.

But each additional point of difference in diastolic pressure increases this risk by 9%. The medical authorities in Britain have recommended the doctors and nurses to take blood pressure figures from both hands of patients to build on the basis of minimum treatment. But the study's authors believe that the majority of physicians, these recommendations are not respected.

Industry News

Go back to the main page