Measurement Variances

Posted by NCW on July 22, 1999 at 11:09:49
Is there any significance to a difference between my blood pressure in my right arm and left. To give you an idea, yesterday it was 160/110 on the right side and 138/104 on the left. The previous day, it was 152/98 on the right, 132/90 on the left.
I take Atenolol (75mg), Plendil (10mg), Hytrin (5 mg), and Lipitor (60mg). I'm 40 years old, normal weight, very good physical condition.

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on July 22, 1999 at 11:24:31
Dear NCW
If the blood pressure in your right arm is consistently much higher than the left arm, bring this to your doctor's attention. Potentially, certain abnormalities of the blood vessels in your chest or arm could account for the discrepancy. Also, some of these disorders can actually cause high blood pressure. When treating high blood pressure, the arm with the higher reading should be used for measurement.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Posted by NCW on July 26, 1999 at 10:05:21
What kind of abnormalities are you talking about?

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on July 28, 1999 at 11:59:34
Dear NCW
Narrowing of the aorta (the main blood vessel that comes out of the heart) or one of its branches could cause such a discrepancy in blood pressure.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.