Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is The Blood Pressure The Same In Both The Arms?
Question: I would like an opinion from a cardiologist if possible. I am an overweight 67 year old male (108 kgs) but
who has been exercising regularly and over the past 6 weeks lost 7 kgs through healthy eating and dieting. I take Amlodipine 5 mg for hypertension and until recently it has worked well for me with my bp at 120/80.
My question is the differential recently between left arm and right arm bp. The last few days my bp has gone higher to 150/90 (left arm) but at the same time 130/85 (right arm). Am I right to be concerned about this differential - according to the Internet more than 10 points difference can be significant.
who has been exercising regularly and over the past 6 weeks lost 7 kgs through healthy eating and dieting. I take Amlodipine 5 mg for hypertension and until recently it has worked well for me with my bp at 120/80.
My question is the differential recently between left arm and right arm bp. The last few days my bp has gone higher to 150/90 (left arm) but at the same time 130/85 (right arm). Am I right to be concerned about this differential - according to the Internet more than 10 points difference can be significant.
Brief Answer:
Normal. Not to be worried at the moment
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HealthcareMagic. Thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
The 10 points difference that you have read is mostly referred to young ages, and a 20 point mmHg difference is accepted as normal as the physiological aging process occurs. This difference is characteristic for some congenital vascular diseases and, if this would be your case, then this difference would be discovered significantly earlier during your life, not now, at your current age. On the other hand, even if it would have been due to some acquired arterial narrowing on one side, the difference would be spotted a long ago and would only become widened during time, as this processes do not happen over weeks nor months. Therefore, I do not think you have to worry. I would recommend you to regularly measure your blood pressure in both arms for two weeks, and keep a diary or notebook for the acquired figures. If this difference persists or becomes widened, the we can discuss about further diagnostic measures that can be undertaken.
I hope I was of help. I am happy to help, if you have any follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Normal. Not to be worried at the moment
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HealthcareMagic. Thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
The 10 points difference that you have read is mostly referred to young ages, and a 20 point mmHg difference is accepted as normal as the physiological aging process occurs. This difference is characteristic for some congenital vascular diseases and, if this would be your case, then this difference would be discovered significantly earlier during your life, not now, at your current age. On the other hand, even if it would have been due to some acquired arterial narrowing on one side, the difference would be spotted a long ago and would only become widened during time, as this processes do not happen over weeks nor months. Therefore, I do not think you have to worry. I would recommend you to regularly measure your blood pressure in both arms for two weeks, and keep a diary or notebook for the acquired figures. If this difference persists or becomes widened, the we can discuss about further diagnostic measures that can be undertaken.
I hope I was of help. I am happy to help, if you have any follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
