Eli5 why one reading is typically not enough to determine a person’s blood pressure

Question

Eli5 why one reading is typically not enough to determine a person’s blood pressure

In: 6

Answer 1

My doctor call’s it “white coat syndrome”

If I know I have to get my blood pressure taken, my blood pressure spikes. My doctor leaves me alone in the room for minutes, hooked up to the machine with the lights low. After about 5 minutes, the machine takes my blood pressure, does it again a few minutes later, and then takes it a few minutes later. Sometimes they have to do it all over again.

I get nervous about getting my blood pressure taken, which make my blood pressure spike.The doctor knows that a single measure may not be accurate. They are trying to find your REAL blood pressure.