January 30, 2012
Blood pressure alone not enough to determine heart
risk
If there is a difference in blood pressure
between your right and left arm you could be at an increased risk
of dying from heart and circulatory disease, according to a new
study.
Researchers found that a difference in
systolic blood pressure of 15mmHG or
more between arms was associated with an increased risk of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). PVD is the
narrowing and hardening or the arteries that
supply blood to the legs and feet.
It’s too early to say whether this could become part of standard healthcare practice
The
findings also showed an increased risk of dying from heart and
circulatory disease if
blood pressure in each arm
differed significantly.
Natasha Stewart, our Senior Cardiac Nurse,
said: “Theoretically, measuring blood pressure on both arms to
assess vascular disease risk is a quick and simple task. But
it’s too early to say whether this idea could
become part of standard healthcare practice and so we need more
research to confirm the findings.
“It’s very important that other risk factors, apart from high blood
pressure, are taken into account to establish whether doctors need
to take a closer look at someone’s heart disease
risk.”
The research, a
meta-analysis of 28 different studies, was published in
the Lancet.