Taking a blood pressure test is enough to make your blood pressure rise. This is why it is necessary for your doctor to take the proper steps to ensure that extraneous factors don't unfairly impact your blood pressure test results during a routine visit. For example, walking from the waiting room to the examination room could cause your blood pressure to rise, so he must wait a few minutes before taking the test to allow it to return to its normal range. Whether visiting the doctor for a test or monitoring blood pressure at home, it is important for you to also manage factors such as diet, which could impact your results.
Step 1
Avoid eating up to one hour before taking your blood pressure. This allows the food you have eaten to begin digesting, a process that can affect your blood pressure. For example, when you eat a large meal, your breathing often slows, and you exert more energy to compensate for the additional weight of the food, which can cause your blood pressure to rise. The ultimate goal is to take your blood pressure when your body is in as neutral a state as possible.
Step 2
Avoid eating spicy foods in the meal prior to taking your blood pressure. Spicy foods can cause your blood pressure to rise. If you know you will be eating spicy food sometime during that day, attempt to take your blood pressure earlier in the day.
Step 3
Avoid drinking alcohol or consuming caffeine prior to taking your blood pressure. Alcohol can have a direct impact on your blood pressure; some people notice an increase, while others see a decrease. Caffeine can cause your blood pressure levels to rise. Either effect paints an inaccurate picture of your typical blood pressure levels.
