A Cell Phone Call Causes Immediate Blood Pressure Spikes In Hypertension Patients

Taking calls while monitoring blood pressure can, surprisingly, alter the readings. One study has revealed that certain spikes are observed when patients take phone calls while getting their blood pressure monitored. Read on to find out more about the study, and how it should impact your behavior if you regularly monitor your own blood pressure.

Effect of Cell Phone Call on Blood Pressure Reading

High blood pressure is often referred to as a silent killer. More than one billion people across the globe suffer from high blood pressure. An important study conducted by Dr. G. Crippa and his fellow associates at the Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, in Piacenza, Italy, found that taking cell phone calls while monitoring blood pressure can have an effect on the blood pressure readings. The study offers cautionary advice to patients suffering from hypertension and warns them not to use cell phones to take calls while their blood pressure readings are underway.

People suffering from high blood pressure are advised to keep a tab on their blood pressure readings. To do so, they can either visit a health care professional or they can use home blood pressure monitoring kits to take their readings on a regular basis. Since cell phones have become indispensable for maintaining our day-to-day business and social relations, the team lead by Dr. Crippa decided to study the effect of the noise generated by the ringing of cell phones on blood pressure readings.

To study the effect of cell phones on blood pressure readings, the doctors selected a sample population of 94 middle aged participants suffering from mild to moderate hypertension. All of these participants were taking medication for controlling high blood pressure. The cell phone numbers of all the participants were taken before the study and data regarding their cell phone usage frequency was also collected.

As part of the study, two different series of six blood pressure measurements were taken for all the participants while they were sitting on an armchair. The monitor took automatic readings at one-minute intervals. The blood pressure monitoring unit took both systolic and diastolic blood pressures and measured heart rates for each interval. The researchers called up the participants from unknown numbers three times during either the first or the second series of measurements. The resulting measurements were then analyzed to compare the blood pressure and heart rate with and without phone calls.

There was no significant change observed in the heart rate. Another key observation of the study was that the spike in systolic blood pressure was less pronounced in participants who used their cell phones more than 30 times in a day.

The spike was also less evident in participants who were taking beta-adrenergic blockers for lowering their blood pressure.

The lead researcher, Dr. Crippa, said that he was unsure about the reason for less pronounced spike in blood pressure in participants who used their cell phones more often. It was observed that the participants who used their cell phone more often were younger and this could imply that younger people are less likely to be disturbed by the frequent telephonic intrusions.

The most important takeaway of the study conducted by Dr. Crippa is that patients should be advised to turn off their cell phones to ensure the utmost accuracy of the blood pressure readings, especially those taken at the doctor's clinic — which may result in the dose of the medication being altered.

The American Heart Association also recommends patients to be quiet while getting their blood pressures monitored. The mere act of talking can raise the measurements and therefore patients are advised to be calm and quiet in order to get accurate blood pressure measurements.

High Blood Pressure: Definition

Blood pressure can be defined as the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. In medical terms, high blood pressure is referred to as hypertension. It is normal for blood pressure to rise and fall at different points a day, both as a result of biological factors and in response to stimuli such as stress. However, if the blood pressure remains elevated over a period of time, the condition is known as high blood pressure. High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension. If left uncontrolled, it might prove fatal as in people who have this condition, the heart works way too hard and this might over time lead to the hardening of the arteries or even a stroke.

A blood pressure that is 140/90 mmHg and higher is considered to be high.

Controlling High Blood Pressure

If you are suffering from high blood pressure there is no need to panic. Hypertension can be prevented if patients follow certain guidelines, as specified below.

• Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight and obese is a high risk factor for heart diseases. Losing weight can help you lower your blood pressure. Speak to your health care provider to know about the ideal body weight and try to achieve it be following a healthy eating plan.
• Stay physically active: Make it a habit to indulge in some form of physical activity for at least half an hour each day. Some forms of physical activities that can help you stay fit are gardening, cycling, swimming, brisk walking, and stair walking.
• Eating the right food: Try to stick to a healthy eating plan in order to control your blood pressure. You must include whole grains, fruits, fish, nuts, and lots of vegetables. Avoid foods that are rich in saturated fats and cholesterol. You should also try to lower your salt and sodium intake. An alternative for lowering your salt intake is by using healthy spices and seasonings to spice up your food and adding flavor to it while going low on sodium. You must also pay close attention to food labels while shopping. You should buy food items that are low in calories, sodium, saturated fats, cholesterol, and total fat.
• Drinking alcohol in moderation: Drinking too much alcohol harms the liver, brain, and heart. Moreover, alcoholic drinks come packed with calories. People suffering from hypertension should limit their alcohol intake.
• Consuming prescribed drugs: People suffering from hypertension are prescribed diuretics, beta blockers, various enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, vasodilators, and alpha blockers. It is recommended that you take your prescribed drugs without fail and in the right amount as suggested by your doctor.

Taking the right blood pressure controlling drugs and making changes to your lifestyle habits can help you control your high blood pressure. You must also remember to take your blood pressure readings on a routine basis so as to check for any anomaly — but, as we now know, you should do this without phone calls or other potential sources of stress around you!