Your blood pressure is measured to see how hard your heart is working when it pumps blood around your body. When you are young, or if you are tall and slim, you may have lower blood pressure than normal. No action is usually required in relation to low blood pressure, other than the need to be aware that you may feel dizzy if (for example) you get up too quickly.
It is important to avoid high blood pressure, as it puts a strain on the body’s blood vessels. High blood pressure may depend on factors such as stress or being significantly overweight, although a hereditary factor may also be involved.
For the target group
If you are missing all or parts of your arms, your blood pressure can be measured in your legs. In this case it can be measured in three different ways: in your thigh, calf or ankle. In order to ensure that the measurements are as comparable as possible over time, it is important that your blood pressure is measured in the same leg, in the same way and (ideally) at the same time of day on each occasion.
There are few studies regarding blood pressure measurements in legs. According to a Japanese study (1) (Hinoshita, 2017) , researchers found that a person’s blood pressure is slightly higher in the leg compared with their blood pressure in the arm. It may therefore be a good idea to check your blood pressure at regular intervals, so that you and your care provider can see any changes.
Helpful tips
Guidance regarding blood pressure measurement in the leg
In order to measure your blood pressure, the cuff is placed around your thigh, calf or ankle. If the cuff is placed around your thigh, the person performing the measurement listens for the pulse in the hollow of your knee. If the cuff is placed around your calf or ankle, the person performing the measurement listens for the pulse next to the malleolus on the inside of your foot. It may be perceived as less painful to have the cuff placed around the ankle rather than the calf or thigh.
Before the measurement is started, it is important that you are lying as flat as possible, ideally with your leg on a pillow. Regardless of where the cuff is placed, your leg should be at the same level as your heart.
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