Blood Pressure Measurement Error Caused by Urinary Retention
Disease description:
After having my blood pressure measured at the hospital, the nurse said it was slightly elevated. I mentioned that I had been holding my urine, and she confirmed that this could affect the reading. What is the magnitude of blood pressure measurement error caused by urinary retention?
Doctor's answer (2)
Dr. Liu Shilei
Blood pressure measurement should be performed when the patient is in a calm emotional state and has had adequate rest. If discomfort caused by urinary retention affects the measurement, the resulting blood pressure reading may be inaccurate. It is therefore recommended to urinate promptly before measurement; only after ensuring there are no abnormalities should blood pressure be measured—this approach yields relatively accurate results.
