Your blood pressure can help alert you to an increased risk of certain conditions and diseases. High blood pressure can lead to a blood clot breaking off and potentially causing a clot in the body, and stroke is also more likely. Blood pressure readings can be taken in the supine position just as they can any other posture, but supine blood pressure readings are often much lower than sitting or standing blood pressure readings.
Definition
Supine blood pressure is defined as your body's blood pressure -- both systolic and diastolic -- as measured while you are supine. A supine body position is one in which you are laying face-up flat on your back. Your legs and arms should be laying down flat and not crossed over one another.
Time Frame
According to MayoClinic.com, resting in a supine position usually helps lower blood pressure. For this reason, your blood pressure tends to be lowest in the morning, when you have been sleeping for a long period of time, and will gradually rise until you reach the afternoon. This serves as evidence that supine positions can lead to lower blood pressure readings, although there are some conditions where the opposite can happen.
Irregularities
There are some conditions in which you may experience high blood pressure while in a supine position or following periods of rest. This can point to one of several conditions, all of which require medical attention. According to MayoClinic.com, these can include sleep apnea, adrenal gland tumors, kidney disease and ineffective treatment of high blood pressure. Irregularities may also be exacerbated by caffeine or tobacco use, excessive stress or working the night shift.
Expert Insight
According to Dizziness-and-Balance.com, a website by Dr. Timothy C. Hain, your normal supine blood pressure is often lower than whatever your current blood pressure readings are. A healthy blood pressure reading is considered to be 120/80 mmHg. Irregular supine blood pressure is characterized as anything 25/10 mmHg more than your standing blood pressure. This is a condition called orthostatic hypotension.
Considerations
FamilyDoctor.org recommends taking your blood pressure when seated, rather than in a supine position. This helps standardize the readings and give more accurate feedback as to what sort of blood pressure you are dealing with throughout the day. While supine blood pressure readings are likely to have the most attractive results, these numbers can't be practically applied because most people are only in supine positions when resting or sleeping.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Does Blood Pressure Have a Daily Pattern?
- National Institutes of Health: What is Blood Pressure?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Blood Pressure Causes
- Babycenter: Dizziness and Fainting During Pregnancy
- FamilyDoctor.org: Blood Pressure Monitoring at Home
- Dizziness-And-Balance.com: Orthostatic Hypotension
