How Long Should I Wait After Eating to Measure My Blood Pressure?

Many people have unstable blood pressure in their lives, especially the increasing number of people with hypertension. People with hypertension must monitor their blood pressure regularly and measure it frequently. When measuring blood pressure, it is important to choose the appropriate time, relax before measurement, empty the bladder, rest appropriately, and sit upright to ensure accurate results. So, how long after a meal can blood pressure be measured? Let's take a look below.

1. How Long After a Meal Can Blood Pressure Be Measured?

Normally, it is more accurate to wait for half an hour to an hour after a meal to monitor blood pressure, which helps to measure the true blood pressure level. If blood pressure is measured immediately after a meal, the blood pressure level will be lower than the actual level. This is because after eating, the blood needs to gather in the digestive system for digestion and absorption functions. Therefore, the effective circulating blood volume in the body will temporarily decrease, resulting in a temporary drop in blood pressure. Generally, measuring blood pressure after digestion and absorption has ended can reflect the blood pressure level more objectively. During blood pressure monitoring, the upper limbs should be completely relaxed, and the upper arm cuff should be kept at the same level as the heart for blood pressure measurement. When measuring blood pressure, the patient should not move or speak loudly, but should remain in a quiet state. The cuff should be correctly placed 2-3 centimeters above the elbow joint of the upper arm. When suspecting certain diseases such as aortic dissection, it is necessary to measure the blood pressure of both upper arms.

2. How Long After a Meal Can Blood Pressure Be Measured?

Blood pressure fluctuates, and its fluctuations are related to emotions, exercise, and medication control. Whether blood pressure rises or falls after a meal depends on various factors. Generally, eating increases energy, accelerates blood circulation, and changes heart contractions, so blood pressure may increase slightly after a meal. After resting for five to ten minutes, take three consecutive measurements of blood pressure and calculate the average or prioritize the last measurement as the standard blood pressure. After a meal, a large amount of blood flow will rush into the gastrointestinal vessels, resulting in relative insufficiency of peripheral blood circulation. However, the hemodynamic changes caused by eating are not very obvious, unlike intense exercise. If conditions permit, a blood pressure monitor can be used to measure blood pressure several times before and after meals to observe the average effect. For hypertensive patients taking medication, blood pressure fluctuations may occur.