Researchers have warned that some people may be misdiagnosed with high blood pressure if they make this simple error. Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Many people who have their blood pressure tested face being misdiagnosed, new research has found. Something as simple as having your arm is in the wrong position when a reading is taken can massively impact the results, the Independent reports .
High blood pressure can be hugely dangerous , as it means your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body. It's also a fairly common condition to have, as according to Blood Pressure UK, around one in three adults suffer from it - which is also known as hypertension. Symptoms of high blood pressure include dizziness, shortness of breath, blurred vision and headaches.
However, even more worryingly, sometimes high blood pressure doesn't actually create any noticeable symptoms. That's why it's also sometimes caused a "silent killer ", so accurate testing is vital. Scientists at at Johns Hopkins Medicine in the US checked the results of blood pressure test patients, noting whether their arms were placed on a desk, supported in their lap, or unsupported and hung at their side when the test took place.
The researchers discovered some startling findings: some arm positions – for example restin.