Blood Pressure

[rightrudder]

I once heard someone say that if you drink a lot of water before your medical exam, that it will give you a lower blood pressure reading. Anyone know if this is true?

RR

 

[LR45JI]

Not true

Sorry, it won't work.

 

[Cardinal]

Probably an obvious solution, but go easy on the caffeine that morning.

 

[Dude Groovy]

A Flight Surgeon once told me that if you are accustomed to exercise that one way to ensure a good reading is to get a good workout an hour or so before your physical. That obviously will raise your BP but after you are done it falls significantly for a while.

 

[Bobby622]

Right Rudder,

Drinking a lot of water would actually increase your blood pressure. Some patients with high BP are may be given a medication called lasix aka "water pill" (if diet and exercise does not work). Lasix is a diuretic to lower the BP by allowing the kidney to get rid of excess fluids in the body via urination.