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About Blood Pressure
Answers to Why Your Readings Are Different Between Home
and at the Doctor’s Office
Q: Why are my readings different between home and at a doctor’s
office?
A: Your blood pressure readings taken in a doctor’s office or hospital
setting may be elevated as a result of apprehension and anxiety.
This response is known as white coat hypertension.
Q: When I bring my monitor to a doctor’s office, why do I get a
different measurement from my monitor to that taken by a doctor
or nurse?
A: The healthcare professional may be using a different sized cuff.
The size of the bladder inside the cuff is critical for the accuracy
of the measurement. This may give you a different reading. A cuff
too large will produce a reading that is lower than the correct
blood pressure; a cuff that is too small will produce a reading that
is higher than the correct blood pressure. There may also be other
factors that can cause the difference in measurements.
Keys to Successful Monitoring:
Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. We recommend that you
are consistent in your daily measurement routine:
• Measure at the same time every day.
• Sit in the same chair/position.
• Do not cross legs and keep your feet flat on the floor.
• Relax for 5 minutes before measurement.
• Use the correct cuff size to get an accurate reading.
• Sit still during measurement – no talking, eating or sudden
movements.
