Turns out, the way doctors measure your blood pressure might not be as accurate as you think. A medical assistant instructor on TikTok, who goes by @favorite_ma_instructor, has gone viral for claiming that most doctor’s offices are doing it wrong.
Her TikTok video has already racked up over 387,000 views, and it’s sparking a lot of conversations about how blood pressure should actually be measured.
What Are Doctors Doing Wrong?
In her video, @favorite_ma_instructor shares five rules that are often ignored when taking blood pressure readings:
- You need to rest for at least five minutes: She says patients should sit still for five minutes before their blood pressure is taken. If you’ve just walked in from the waiting room and they check your BP right away, it won’t be accurate.
- Feet should be flat on the floor: Sitting with your feet dangling or crossed? That could throw off your reading too.
- No eating for 30 minutes before: She claims you should wait at least half an hour after your last meal before getting your blood pressure checked.
- Back support matters: If you’re sitting on an exam table without your back supported, your reading might not be accurate either.
- White coat syndrome is real: A lot of people experience anxiety when they visit the doctor’s office, which can make their blood pressure spike. That doesn’t necessarily mean they have high blood pressure.
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Are These Claims True?
According to experts, @favorite_ma_instructor’s claims are legit. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) backs up the idea of “white coat syndrome,” where the stress of being in a medical setting can raise your blood pressure.
They also confirm the importance of resting for five minutes to get a true reading.
@favorite_ma_instructor Now there are several other factors that are involved when it comes to obtaining an accurate blood pressure such as the size of the cuff that is being used. #b#bloodpressureb#bloodpressurecheckm#medicalassistantm#medicalassistantlifem#medicalassistantsoftiktokm#medicalassistantstudent ♬ original sound – Medical Assistant Instructor
The American Heart Association agrees that sitting with your feet flat and your back supported is key to getting an accurate blood pressure reading. If you don’t, you might end up classified as having high blood pressure when you actually don’t.
As for waiting after eating, Healthline says that’s true too. They recommend waiting 30 minutes because digestion can temporarily lower your blood pressure, which could give you a false reading.
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People Are Sharing Their Stories!
The comments on @favorite_ma_instructor’s TikTok are filled with people who have dealt with inaccurate blood pressure readings, especially those who experience white coat syndrome. One person wrote, “I have white coat syndrome BAD and my BP is always at stroke levels every time I go to the doctor. My at-home readings are always very normal.”
Others shared their frustrations about improper measurement techniques. “The amount of times I had mine measured incorrectly is insane. They aren’t even lining up the cuff correctly,” another user said.
One person even mentioned how their doctor wasn’t very understanding about the situation: “I told my doctor’s office this and they wrote ‘patient blames office for her high BP’ in my chart.”
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So, What Should You Do?
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure readings, it might be worth bringing these tips up at your next doctor’s appointment.
And if you suspect white coat syndrome is affecting your numbers, you could try monitoring your blood pressure at home for a more accurate picture of your health.