Ask Dr Mark
YOUR QUESTIONS/ DANCING/ LONG COVID
Our expert on measuring blood pressure, keratoses, causes of tremor and an eyelid problem
illustration MARK LONG
QI
have
borderline
high
blood
pressure
and
my
GP
has
requested
I
do
some
home
readings
over
a
week
and
report
back.
My
daughter
bought
me
a
machine
for
my
birthday,
and
the
average
reading
was
147/87.
I'd
eaten
and
drunk
a
lot
over
that
period.
Could
that
have
skewed
the
results?
Should
I
do
another
set
now
I'm
back
to
a
healthier
routine?
That was probably not the best time to \:..,1 check your blood pressure. Eating salty foods such as crisps, drinking too much alcohol, spending too much time on the sofa and the stress of celebrations such as birthdays or the festive season can all raise your blood pressure.
Your readings are on the high side and it would be a good idea to repeat the tests in a more normal week before seeing your GP again. Your GP will be looking for an average reading below 135/85mmHg. The lower figure represents the constant pressure in your system, the higher one the peak that occurs with each beat of your heart (felt as the pulse). Both are important.