Blood Pressure

[relax100]

I find my blood pressure is fine when I'm calm and borderline or Stage 1 high if I'm tense or at work.  I have been told that blood pressure should only be taken when one is calm.

I have a few questions

If blood pressure is normal at rest, does that mean you are okay?  

Also how much difference should a person expect from in home monitoring and a doctors machine?

[fearfactor]

I wasn't speaking to you.

[fearfactor]

When I was taking my one and ONLY stress test right after my palpitations started happening, my blood pressure actually dropped when I was exercising heavily.  I thought it was supposed to go up.  The doctor said they had no idea why it dropped - what could that be caused from?

[Barbarella]

If you have a good home monitor there should be no difference.  However, if you are anxious about your BP when going to the doctor as in "white coat hypertension" your BP at the doctors will be higher than at home.  If you're not anxious when going to the doctor bring in your home monitor and compare it with the monitor at the doctor's office, this will tell you if there is a difference.

I saw a Hypertension Specialist and he told me that nobodies BP stays the same during the day even for people with normal BP unless you do not do anything during the day as in work, exercise etc.

He told me to take it at home when I am at rest (sitting down) for about 5-15 minutes before taking my BP and calm, NOT while under stress either physical or emotional at the time.  Different doctors have different opinions.  Some doctors want to know what peoples BP is while at work, while under stress.  I trust the Hypertension Specialist and what he told me, he is the Specialist in that field.