Rethinking Blood Pressure Measurement: Study Reveals Doctors' Mistakes

Doctors may be missing certain health complications related to high blood pressure if they only measure patients while they are sitting upright, according to a nearly 30-year study conducted by researchers working with the American Heart Association. The study found that taking blood pressure readings while patients are lying down can reveal elevated risks for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and premature death. The type of medications used to manage blood pressure did not impact cardiovascular risks. The findings suggest that people with known risk factors for heart disease and stroke may benefit from having their blood pressure checked while lying flat on their backs.