In the very first measurement, the blood pressure should be measured on both arms. If there is a significant difference, subsequent measurements should be made on the arm where the highest value has been observed.
Apart from this particular case, it is generally advisable, as a convenience for self-measurement, to place the cuff on the left arm for the right-handed ones and vice versa. Once the side of the measurement has been selected, all measurements must be taken on the same arm.
Placement on left arm (red arrow pointing to the shoulder)
Placement on right arm (red arrow pointing to the hand)
The design and algorithm of the iHealth Feel Blood Pressure Monitor have been optimized for measurements on the left arm. To ensure the most accurate measurements on the right arm, we recommend that you reverse the orientation of the monitor (the red arrow should point to your hand).
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Clinical Trial
Blood pressure differences between arms and association of dominant hands with blood pressure differences and carotid atherosclerosis
Shinji Maeda. Blood Press Monit. 2013 Jun.
Abstract
Guidelines for the management of hypertension recommend that blood pressure (BP) should be measured twice at every visit; it should be measured in both arms at the first visit, and the right arm BP or higher BP should be recorded. Manufacturers of home BP monitors tend to design the device for measurement of left arm BP. The arm preferred for BP measurement differs according to the methods recommended by the society and according to the home BP monitors. The BP difference (ΔBP) is calculated by subtracting left arm BP from right arm BP. Here, we aim to first investigate which hand will give the most accurate reading by a sphygmomanometer in daily medical practice. Second, we wish to assess the association of the dominant hand with absolute BP difference (|ΔBP|) of at least 10 mmHg and with early atherosclerotic markers in a subanalysis. We found that 6.4% of outpatients were left handed, and the percentage of individuals with systolic |ΔBP| (|ΔSBP|) and diastolic |ΔBP| (|ΔDBP|) of at least 10 mmHg was 14.4 and 7.2%, respectively. The dominant hand was not significantly associated with |ΔBP| of at least 10 mmHg or early atherosclerotic markers. This study suggests that BP measured in one arm is substitutable with that of the other arm because of a lack of association of |ΔBP| with the dominant hand. However, BP of both arms should be actively measured in new outpatients with moderate fever, lifestyle-related diseases, vascular events, age 65 years and above, and smoking history, all of which are factors potentially associated with |ΔBP| of at least 10 mmHg, regardless of the dominant hand.
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