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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Did I Hear The Nurse Right ?

So I went to the doctor s today because of really bad weight loss and the nurse said my blood pressure was 80/70. I thought it was weird because it seemed way too low. When I asked she said it was ok because I m tiny . I m 16, 5 11 , 140 lbs. I don t consider that tiny. Please tell me I misheard her, because that seems wayy too low. BTW, it didn t really click how wrong it was until after I left so I feel like an idiot for not asking. Actually, it s the opposite. I used to be very athletic but had to stop due to really bad stomach issues. So when I quit sports my blood pressure dropped, normally it was 110ish/80. It was the manual hand-pump reader (I m assuming that s manual?)
posted on Wed, 16 Dec 2009
Twitter Wed, 16 Dec 2009 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 16 Dec 2009 Last reviewed on
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Your reported blood pressure is odd. What's even odder still, is that any nurse worth her salt would be happy with a reading like that and not be immediately concerned or suspicious to do another reading; or get another machine to do it with. Like the other respondent stated, a pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic readings) that is so narrow is strikingly unusual, though not impossible. Granted, it could have been bad technique or equipment failure, but odder still, is the doctor whose office you're in, who chose to not even ask about that pressure or show some modicum of interest. Inotherwords, BOTH the nurse AND the doctor she reports to, seem to show a lack of concern in such a narrow pulse pressure. Whether it is equipment failure or professional misfeasance is hard to say. But if I were you, I would seriously consider finding a new doctor, or at least one who runs a tighter office. Good luck. Ralph
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Did I Hear The Nurse Right ?

Your reported blood pressure is odd. What s even odder still, is that any nurse worth her salt would be happy with a reading like that and not be immediately concerned or suspicious to do another reading; or get another machine to do it with. Like the other respondent stated, a pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic readings) that is so narrow is strikingly unusual, though not impossible. Granted, it could have been bad technique or equipment failure, but odder still, is the doctor whose office you re in, who chose to not even ask about that pressure or show some modicum of interest. Inotherwords, BOTH the nurse AND the doctor she reports to, seem to show a lack of concern in such a narrow pulse pressure. Whether it is equipment failure or professional misfeasance is hard to say. But if I were you, I would seriously consider finding a new doctor, or at least one who runs a tighter office. Good luck. Ralph