What is the difference between blood pressure in the upper and lower limbs?

Your blood pressure readings are an important way for your doctor to determine your overall health. If your blood pressure reading is too high or too low, it will let your doctor know about certain diseases you may have. In most cases, the arm absorbs blood pressure, but blood pressure can also be taken at the calf, thigh or ankle. The readings may vary, and once you know why, you can get the most accurate blood pressure reading with your doctor.

Blood pressure accuracy depends on the correct size of the cuff. (Source: Hemera Technologies / PhotoObjects.net / Getty Images)

Blood pressure

When a nurse or doctor measures your blood pressure, there are two numbers. The highest number or systolic blood pressure is measured before your heart beats and remains stable in your arteries. This number is the higher of the two numbers in the blood pressure reading. The bottom digital or diastolic number measures the pressure of the arteries between the two heartbeats. Normal blood pressure is the minimum, less than 120 mm Hg or millimeters of mercury. A bottom number less than 80 mm Hg is also considered normal. Higher or lower numbers may indicate health problems.

Differences

Your blood pressure readings are usually not significantly different between the lower limbs and the upper limbs. You are more likely to get a bigger difference between your arms and legs. In some health situations, a comparison between upper and lower limb blood pressure readings can be helped by the Lake. According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, blood pressure readings from the lower extremities may be more useful in assessing cardiovascular health risks. Another explanation for slightly different readings is your body posture. Your arm is closer to your heart than your arm, which can cause a small difference. Some heart problems can also cause differences in readings. Inappropriate blood pressure cuff sizes can also produce different and inaccurate readings.

Upper Limbs

Your blood pressure is usually in the upper part of your arm. This method requires you to sit down and wrap your blood pressure cuff around your arm, which is about the heart level. The nurse or doctor takes your blood pressure to listen to blood flow near the medial artery of the elbow. For patients with high or low blood pressure, readings are usually taken in both arms to obtain a more accurate image.

[123Lower Limbs

When the upper limb is unable to obtain or be injured, a limb such as a thigh, calf or ankle can be used to obtain a blood pressure reading. Once the blood pressure cuff is wrapped around your lap, the nurse or doctor will hear the humerus, calf, artery or pop artery or thigh artery to get an accurate reading. The American Association of Intensive Care Nurses recommends using the arm to obtain accurate blood pressure readings whenever possible. Although the lower limbs can help doctors have a good idea about blood pressure, it may be more effective in getting reading closer to the heart.