Taking Your Blood Pressure? Check Both Arms

The ideal way to take blood pressure is by measuring it in both arms, according to international guidelines. In real life, this happens at best only half the time—even at the doctor’s office. Checking both arms is important because when arteries stiffen and harden, one side is usually affected more than the other in a way that blood pressure testing may detect. A slight disparity isn’t cause for concern, but a difference of 10 mm Hg in the systolic number could be a sign of cardiovascular problems. So the next time you’re at a doctor’s appointment, if they check only one arm, encourage them to take a few extra moments for the other one.