blood pressure readings?

tomdempsey200

is your actual blood pressure the reading at rest?

the same as resting heart rate is the lowest reading


in other words are the values taken at different times in the day of any clinical relevance

Alf Veedersane

Best to take at same time of day for comparing with other readings.

And ideally at rest.

tomdempsey200

thanks

so your blood pressure is ideally the reading at rest


do the readings at other times have any relevance?

Alf Veedersane

Yes. If you took it immediately after exercise, the systolic reading (the higher) would be higher than at rest.

But you might be at rest and a cup of coffee would affect it.

Unless it's outside of a range then those factors are less likely to be a reason.

Readings at other times are still relevant. They might not change hugely at different times but at the same time of day, under same conditions, is the ideal.

tomdempsey200

thanks

what do you mean 'readings at other times are relevant'?

I guess the question im asking is

how to determine your blood pressure on an ongoing basis


is it the reading taken at the same time every day at rest?

and that is the only relevant reading or not?


not seeking any medical advise btw

just the logistics of determining BP

Alf Veedersane

You might be at rest and other factors will cause a slight change.

If you're looking to establish an exact figure, then don't. There's a reasonable range it should be within. If you measure it at 9am tomorrow and 9am on Tuesday, it won't necessarily be exactly the same.

BP is a measure of the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of blood vessels. It might be the same at 9am tomorrow and 5pm on Tuesday.

Unless a doctor has told you to record it daily, you're overthinking it. Probably sending the systolic too high as it is.

Take a reading at rest, if you have time to kill.

But if your BP is concerning you, go to a doctor.

If it isn't and there's no good reason to measure it, then don't.

Mellor

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Yes. If you took it immediately after exercise, the systolic reading (the higher) would be higher than at rest.

I thought it was lower after exercise.

Alf Veedersane

Mellor wrote: »

I thought it was lower after exercise.

Over time, exercise would lower it (if it was on the high side) but during and immediately after exercise the heart is pumping harder and pushing more blood through the system and while the vessels can dilate a little it usually means a slightly raised BP.

As I understand it...

Mellor

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Over time, exercise would lower it (if it was on the high side) but during and immediately after exercise the heart is pumping harder and pushing more blood through the system and while the vessels can dilate a little it usually means a slightly raised BP.

As I understand it...

During exercise yeah, higher HR means more pressure, so a higher BP (systolic).
But post exercise, BP drops quickly as HR returns to normal, but vessel stay dilated, so BP drops below normal/resting BP.

By no means an expert, just my understanding based on recording a very low BP after a 9km race.

Alf Veedersane

Mellor wrote: »

During exercise yeah, higher HR means more pressure, so a higher BP (systolic).
But post exercise, BP drops quickly as HR returns to normal, but vessel stay dilated, so BP drops below normal/resting BP.

By no means an expert, just my understanding based on recording a very low BP after a 9km race.

How quickly it drops back depends on your fitness. If you're fit then the blood vessels are a bit more 'elastic' because they're more regularly dilated. If you're unfit, it might take a bit longer but you're not talking very long anyway.

I don't think it's something the OP needs to be getting bogged down with in any case.