• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
emtspot logo

TheEMTSpot

Your Blood Pressure Specialist

  • Blood Pressure
    • Blood Pressure Chart
    • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
      • Symptoms
      • Causes
      • Diagnosis And Tests
      • Treatment
      • Prevention
    • Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
    • How To Check Blood Pressure
    • How To Lower Blood Pressure
    • Blood Pressure Medications
  • Readings
    • Severe Hypotension
    • Hypotension
    • Normal BP
    • Pre-Hypertension
    • Stage 1 Hypertension
    • Stage 2 Hypertension
    • Hypertensive Crisis
  • Supplements
    • Best Blood Pressure Supplements
    • Blood Pressure Support Review
    • Blood Pressure Optimizer Review
    • Corsanum Review
  • Monitors
    • Best Blood Pressure Monitors
    • Oxiline Pressure X Pro Review
    • CheckMe BP2 Review
    • QardioArm Review
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
  • Videos
  • News
  • Search
Home » Blood Pressure

Can Blood Pressure Be Different In Each Arm?

Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD

Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD | Fact checked by Robin Backlund, BHSc
Last update: March 20, 2023

Wondering why your blood pressure readings differ when measured from both arms? Read this article to know the factors that can influence and what are the red signals.

different blood pressure on each arm

Quick Summary

  • Blood pressure changes are normal, and so are the varying measurements between the two arms.
  • One can suspect an underlying disease if the differences between the readings are significant.
  • Error in the ways by which readings are taken, or faulty machines can also lead to differences in the readings.

Everyone wonders what the blood pressure changes in the arms of your body indicate. Well, it is a common practice for doctors to measure the pressure of blood during each checkup.

Earlier it used to be common practice to check blood pressure, but with time the regulations and practices changed.

If the BP change is different in the reading obtained from both of your arms, it can or cannot be a cause for concern. Read on to get to know more about the causes and differences behind such a condition.

In this article hide
1. Difference In Blood Pressure In The Arms
2. What Can Blood Pressure Difference In Arms Indicate?
2.1. Peripheral artery disease
2.2. Diabetes
2.3. Kidney diseases
2.4. Heart disease
2.5. Atherosclerosis
2.6. Hypertension
2.7. Obesity
3. Important Things To Note That Can Affect Your Blood Pressure Readings
4. Conclusion

Difference In Blood Pressure In The Arms

Normally, there is a difference in the pressure of blood readings between the two arms. Small changes are usually never a cause of concern, but anything above 10 mm Hg can be an indication of an underlying issue.

The difference can be in both systolic (top number) as well as diastolic blood pressure (lower number). One can easily measure these changes at home with the help of a blood pressure machine and analyze them with the help of a bp chart.

Besides the health conditions that may cause the difference in blood pressure, manual or machine error can also lead to varied readings. It is important to ensure that these BP readings are taken with cuffs on bare skin and that the machine is handled well.

What Can Blood Pressure Difference In Arms Indicate?

Reoccurring differences in blood pressure can indicate several cardiovascular or other diseases.

Peripheral artery disease

This is a common condition because of which the arteries narrow down and reduce the blood flow to the arms or legs. In such a condition, the body parts do not receive enough blood flow, which can be a reason for the blood pressure difference.

Many lifestyle and general factors lead to high blood pressure, which can, in turn, lead to PAD. These factors may vary from smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, age, gender and much more.

Diabetes

This is a long-lasting health issue that can affect the bloodstream as well as the kidneys. These also tend to change blood pressure readings.

The combination of high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes will increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Certain hormones like adrenaline are released when the blood sugar falls too low, which also leads to changes in blood pressure.

Kidney diseases

These can also lead to pressure changes between the arms. Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD is a condition that leads to failure of the kidneys due to HBP along with other factors.

In conditions such as hypertension, the blood vessels in the kidneys constrict and weaken the vessels throughout the body. This can also lead to injury of the organs. Managing high blood pressure can eventually slow the progression of this disease; therefore, it is also important to take readings frequently.

In case the blood vessels of the kidneys are damaged, they may not be able to remove the fluids and extra waste from the body. This extra fluid in the body can raise blood pressure even more.

In the beginning, one may not notice any particular symptoms, but as it progresses, one can observe muscle cramping, lack of appetite, inability to focus and oedema.

Heart disease

Differences in the blood pressure between the two arms can also indicate underlying heart disease.

The difference can be due to the damaged arteries that make them less elastic and decrease the blood flow. In such a condition, along with the varying readings, one can also observe chest pain, often known as angina.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is another condition where the artery walls can accumulate fats, cholesterol, and other compounds. This build-up can cause arteries to narrow down and block the blood flow. Usually, in this condition, the blood pressure readings vary between the two arms.

People observing a difference of 15 points or more in their readings are usually at risk of cholesterol-clogged arteries in the legs, arms, or other parts of the body. These can lead to strokes or heart diseases.

Hypertension

This condition can be long-lasting when not managed properly. Hypertension can cause many issues and also indicates a significant difference between the readings of the two arms.

One should have less salt intake and natural supplements, avoid alcohol, limit smoking, and follow a healthy lifestyle in case of hypertension.

Obesity

Excessive weight also links directly to inter-arm BP differences. If one is checking BP from both arms regularly, the readings may help medical health professionals determine the condition. Moreover, a conclusion can be drawn if any other disease is associated. 

Important Things To Note That Can Affect Your Blood Pressure Readings

There are a couple of do’s and don’ts when it comes to monitoring blood pressure at home. Several factors that affect BP levels are as the following:

  1. Caffeine intake should be avoided for 30 minutes before reading. This is because caffeine is known to elevate blood pressure.
  2. Make sure your body is resting and your feet are on the floor before taking the reading.
  3. Make sure that the cuff is tight and follow the instructions on the machine carefully.
  4. Take multiple readings if necessary.

Conclusion

There are many changes that take place from time to time in the human body. It is necessary to know what are the factors that affect blood pressure readings and the things to look out for.

Some of the fluctuations in the readings can be ignored, but others may directly reflect a problem related to the heart.

In case of concerns regarding blood pressure conditions, it is important to talk to your medical professional and take regular blood pressure readings from both arms.

References

Fred HL. Accurate blood pressure measurements and the other arm: the doctor is ultimately responsible. Tex Heart Inst J. 2013;40(3):217-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709227/

Julie Corliss. Big arm-to-arm difference in blood pressure linked to higher heart attack risk. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School. 2014. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/big-arm-arm-difference-blood-pressure-linked-higher-heart-attack-risk-201403057064

Nakanishi R, Baskaran L, Gransar H, Budoff MJ, Achenbach S, Al-Mallah M, Cademartiri F, Callister TQ, Chang HJ, Chinnaiyan K, Chow BJW, DeLago A, Hadamitzky M, Hausleiter J, Cury R, Feuchtner G, Kim YJ, Leipsic J, Kaufmann PA, Maffei E, Raff G, Shaw LJ, Villines TC, Dunning A, Marques H, Pontone G, Andreini D, Rubinshtein R, Bax J, Jones E, Hindoyan N, Gomez M, Lin FY, Min JK, Berman DS. Relationship of Hypertension to Coronary Atherosclerosis and Cardiac Events in Patients With Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography. Hypertension. 2017 Aug;70(2):293-299. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5518701/

Claim A FREE Blood Pressure Tracking Log

Are you ready to take control of your blood pressure and improve your overall health? Join our newsletter now and unlock exclusive access to our user-friendly Blood Pressure Tracking Log – absolutely FREE!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD

About Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD

Michael Rotman is a Structural Heart Specialist, Interventional Cardiologist and Scientist. He has more than a decade of experience in treating heart related desease, as well as authoring and reviewing health and wellness-related content. Currently work for a St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

You May Also Like

high blood pressure young adult teens
High Blood Pressure In Young Adults And Teens: Causes And Treatments
blood pressure checking
How To Check Your Blood Pressure At Home
chronic hypertension
Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Hypertension
hbp and nosebleeds
High Blood Pressure and Nosebleeds: Is There a Connection?

You May Also Like

high blood pressure young adult teens
High Blood Pressure In Young Adults And Teens: Causes And Treatments
blood pressure checking
How To Check Your Blood Pressure At Home
chronic hypertension
Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Hypertension
hbp and nosebleeds
High Blood Pressure and Nosebleeds: Is There a Connection?

DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Footer

Categories

  • Blood Pressure
  • Readings
  • Monitors
  • Supplements
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • News

Site Navigation

  • EMT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Useful Links

  • Advertize With Us
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap
  • Affiliate Disclosure

emtspot logo

Heart care is a top priority in today’s medical world, and TheEMTSpot will be your one-stop solution for all queries you have. Dive in now!

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · TheEMTSpot.com

Fact checked by Robin Backlund, BHSc

robin backlundRobin Backlund is a dedicated journalist and a medical student who has written several articles and essays exposing the falseness and hollowness of online resources in the medical science niche.

Note:

All TheEMTSpot’s content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure that it is as accurate as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to other reputable media sites, educational institutions, and, whenever possible, peer-reviewed studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact us.

x
blood pressure log newsletter back
DON'T MISS OUT!
Discover A Healthier You With Our FREE Blood Pressure Tracking Log

Are you ready to take control of your blood pressure and improve your overall health? Join our newsletter now and unlock exclusive access to our user-friendly Blood Pressure Tracking Log – absolutely FREE!

We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!
x
blood pressure log newsletter back
DON'T MISS OUT!
Discover A Healthier You With Our FREE Blood Pressure Tracking Log

Are you ready to take control of your blood pressure and improve your overall health? Join our newsletter now and unlock exclusive access to our user-friendly Blood Pressure Tracking Log – absolutely FREE!

We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!