I just had my bp checked at a Walgreens pharmacy and it read 150/100. I had a cup of coffee within the hour, but 8 hours ago, I did go walking for 3 miles too. My normal reading a month ago was 130/90. I cut back smoking and drinking. My question is this: the machine went up to 250 when tightening around my arm and came up with those readings. I do have anxiety. Would it be possible this reading isn t accurate? I m not dizzy and have no chest pains.
The causes dizziness and anxiety while having high BP is the epinephrine effects. When you are stressed, anxious or just exercised a hormone called epinephrine is released in your blood. Its effect accelerate your heart beat, raise blood pressure, palpitations and could cause dizziness that you reported. This hormone works only for a few minutes, so if your stress goes away or if you rest for some minutes the epinephrine effects goes away too. Proper technique for blood pressure measurement requires rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes just to reduce the effects of epinephrine. Thus, when you measure your blood pressure outside the doctor's office, follow the routine of sitting and relax for at least 15 minutes before checking, furthermore, make two or three measures following with 5 minute intervals between such measurements. Following this technique, the measurement of your blood pressure will be more precise and not suffer much interference of epinephrine. Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help you. Wish you good health.