Blood pressure often fluctuates. High blood pressure is referred to as hypertension. However, our level of blood pressure is also gets determined by our body positions. Here, we will talk about these positions and try to understand how it affects our blood pressure.
The effect of different body positions on blood pressure
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Lying Down vs. Sitting
Both men and women have high diastolic readings while sitting on their first reading. However, repetitions in the reading of blood pressure did not find a similarity while lying down. Even systolic readings are higher when someone is sitting.
People who have high blood pressure observed that their average diastolic and systolic blood pressure was lower when they were lying down. It was higher when they were in a position of sitting. However, this difference can also be due to the fact that these readings had a time difference of ten minutes in between them.
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Moving From One Position To The Other
When you are standing, the blood in your body pools down. This can lower your level of blood pressure. But, your body gradually adjusts itself to the change.
This happens because your bodily reflexes send a signal to the brain when there is a drop in blood pressure. It enables your heart to beat fast to pump blood and to stabilize blood pressure levels.
When there is a delay in the flow of blood to your brain, the blood pressure can remain low for a longer time. During this time, you may experience symptoms like faintness, dizziness, and lightheadedness.
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The Ideal Position For Measuring Blood Pressure
When you measure your blood pressure, your arm must be at the level of your heart. You must then straighten your arm and extend it two or three inches below the level of the shoulder. This you will have to do while in a standing or sitting position. Similarly, you will have to keep your arm at your body level while you are lying down.
Conclusion
If you need more information on how different body positions affect blood pressure, then you can reach out to Dr. Meghana Pande at Pune.