Checking your blood pressure (BP) using only your fingers is not a precise method for determining your exact BP reading, but it can give an indication of whether your systolic blood pressure is at least 80 mmHg. This method relies on feeling for a pulse and assessing its strength.
Understanding the Limitations
It's crucial to understand that this is not a substitute for using a blood pressure cuff and medical advice. Checking your blood pressure with fingers only provides a rough estimate of systolic pressure and does not measure diastolic pressure.
How to Palpate Your Pulse
Here’s how you can try this method:
- Locate Your Pulse: Place your fingers on the inside of your wrist, near the base of your thumb.
- Use Two Fingers: Use your index and middle fingers (the two fingers next to your thumb).
- Feel for the Pulse: Place these two fingers just below the wrist crease on the thumb side of your hand.
- Assess the Pulse Strength: A strong pulse felt at the wrist suggests that your systolic blood pressure is likely at or above 80 mmHg.
What the Pulse Tells You
| Pulse Strength | Implication |
|---|---|
| Strong | Systolic BP likely at least 80 mmHg |
| Weak | Systolic BP may be lower than 80 mmHg |
| Absent | Immediate medical attention needed |
- This is a rough estimate, not a diagnostic tool.
- Factors like body size, hydration level and individual physiology can affect pulse strength.
- If you are consistently experiencing a weak pulse or have any concerns about your blood pressure, consult a healthcare professional immediately.
Why This Method Is Not Always Accurate
- No Diastolic Measurement: This method only provides an indication of the systolic pressure; it does not measure diastolic pressure.
- Subjective Interpretation: Assessing pulse strength is subjective, and what feels strong to one person might feel weak to another.
- Not Precise: Factors like body temperature, medication and emotional state can affect pulse strength.
This method is useful in emergencies when a blood pressure cuff isn't available but should not replace accurate BP measurements by healthcare professionals.
