BP reading in both arms key for healthy heart: Study

In a significant news for blood pressure (BP) patients and doctors alike, researchers have suggested to take BP reading in both arms, rather than the present system of measuring BP using one arm, for better cardiovasvular health.

The difference in interarm systolic blood pressure - where both arms are used for BP reading - has now been linked to greater risk of future cardiovascular events.

Measuring interarm blood pressure involves taking two readings, one for each arm.

Increased interarm systolic blood pressure differences are defined as 10 mmHg or greater.

“In this large community-based study, an increased interarm systolic blood pressure difference was found to be present in nearly 10 percent of individuals and is associated with increased levels of traditional cardiovascular risk factors,” explained lead investigator Ido Weinberg from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

"An increased interarm systolic blood pressure difference is associated with an increased risk for incident cardiovascular events, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors,” he cautioned.

The researchers examined 3,390 participants aged 40 years and older, free of cardiovascular disease at baseline.

The investigators found that participants with higher interarm systolic blood pressure differences were at a much higher risk for future cardiovascular events than those with less than a 10mm Hg difference between arms.

The researchers also found that participants with elevated interarm blood pressure difference were older, had a greater prevalence of diabetes mellitus, higher systolic blood pressure and a higher total cholesterol level.

The investigators suggest doctors should consider including blood pressure readings in both arms in order to get the most accurate readings possible and detect any differences in interarm blood pressure.

Even modest differences in clinically-measured systolic blood pressures in the upper extremities reflect an increase in cardiovascular risk, said Weinberg in the research published in The American Journal of Medicine.