Heart Health
Most Americans need a large or extra-large blood pressure cuff
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- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
To get an accurate blood pressure reading, using the right-sized cuff (the part that inflates and squeezes the upper arm) is important. Because of rising obesity rates in this country, a majority of people now need a large or extra-large cuff, suggests a study in the Nov. 2, 2022, American Journal of Hypertension.
Adult cuff sizes are based on a measurement of the mid-arm circumference in centimeters (cm). They include small (up to 26 cm), regular (more than 26 cm, up to 34 cm), large (more than 34 cm, up to 44 cm) and extra-large (more than 44 cm). For the report, researchers measured the arms of a representative sample of more than 13,000 people in the United States. They found that over half of the men (53%) and one-third of women (34%) required a large or extra-large cuff. Only 2% of men and 10% of women needed a small cuff.
Many home blood pressure machines come with variable-size cuffs that can be adjusted to fit arms 22 to 42 cm in circumference. Measure around your arm to make sure the cuff you're using is the correct size to ensure an accurate blood pressure reading.
Image: © Jakovo/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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