Your Blood Pressure Reading Could Be Wrong Because of One Simple Mistake

A Johns Hopkins study found blood pressure readings can rise when the arm is not supported at heart level.

Researchers in Baltimore compared proper positioning with arms resting in the lap or hanging at the side.

Those nonstandard positions produced higher systolic and diastolic values, enough to distort screening results.

The findings suggest poor arm support could push patients into the wrong hypertension category.

That could lead to unnecessary treatment or missed diagnosis of a major cardiovascular risk factor.