When measuring hypertension, is the blood pressure higher in the left hand or the right hand?

In order to prevent high blood pressure and control it, people usually measure their blood pressure actively. However, some people have found that the results of blood pressure measurement on the left and right hands are different. So the question is, when measuring blood pressure, which one is higher, the left hand or the right hand? Which hand is the most correct to measure?

Normally the right hand is higher than the left hand.

Generally, the blood pressure in the right hand is 10-20 mmHg higher than that in the left hand. This is because the blood pressure in the brachial artery is measured. The right brachial artery comes from the branch of the brachiocephalic trunk, and the left brachial artery comes from the left subclavian artery. The brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery both come from the aorta, and the brachiocephalic trunk is a large branch of the aorta. Therefore, the blood pressure in the brachiocephalic trunk is naturally higher than that in the left subclavian artery, and the blood pressure in the right brachial artery is higher than that in the left brachial artery.

How to prevent high blood pressure?

Hypertension is a preventable and controllable disease. People with blood pressure in the high-normal range of 130-139/85-89 mmHg, who are overweight/obese, who have a long-term high-salt diet, or who drink excessively should receive targeted intervention, have regular health checks, and actively control risk factors.

For patients with hypertension, regular follow-up and blood pressure measurement should be performed, with particular attention paid to the management of blood pressure in the morning. Hypertension should be actively treated (drug therapy and lifestyle intervention at the same time) to reduce target organ damage, prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal complications, and reduce disability and mortality rates.