To mitigate artificially elevated BP due to recent physical activity, what should be done before measurement?

• A. Rest 3–5 minutes before measurement
• B. Take measurements immediately after activity
• C. Measure with the patient standing
• D. Ignore rest and proceed

Answer: (A)

Resting before taking a BP reading helps you capture the true resting pressure rather than a number raised by recent activity. After physical exertion, heart rate and cardiac output go up and the sympathetic system increases vascular tone, which pushes blood pressure higher. Giving the patient 3–5 minutes of seated rest with the back supported and the arm at heart level allows these effects to subside and the reading to reflect baseline blood pressure. Using a properly sized cuff, keeping the patient quiet, and avoiding talking further improves accuracy. Measuring immediately after activity would yield an artificially high value, and standing or proceeding without rest can introduce extra variability that doesn’t represent the resting BP.