My blood pressure readings at home are often noticeably lower than the ones I get at a clinic, even when they’re taken on the same day. I use an upper-arm monitor and try to sit quietly, but I’m not sure whether I’m comparing the numbers fairly.
How much can timing, cuff fit, posture, or feeling nervous during an appointment affect the result? I’m also wondering whether it’s more useful to keep a home blood pressure log for several days than to focus on one reading. What details should I record so a clinician can make sense of the difference?