Keep in mind that BP can vary up to 20 points in a very short amount of time based on activity and anxiety (white coat syndrome). I suffer from it big time. Watching my wife's c-section, i thought for sure I was gonna hit the floor....anywho, Try to remain still and relaxed prior to the reading. I always hate it when you have been sitting in the lobby for 30 mins, they call you in, you hop up walk down the hall and then hop up on the table and the first thing they do is the BP. That simple exertion can actually cause a spike, however if you sit there for 5 mins or so it will go back down. Try it out at any store that has a BP machine. I sit down, after walking around shopping and chasing my daughter, hit the test button and bam 138/90. Hit the reset and try again, 124/74. At my last physical I was 132/85, the doc looks at it and said, Dont worry, Everyone is a little higher here!