Blood pressure cuff errors may be missing 30% of hypertension cases

Cambridge scientists have cracked the mystery of why cuff-based blood pressure monitors often give inaccurate readings, missing up to 30% of high blood pressure cases. By building a physical model that replicates real artery behavior, they discovered that low pressure below the cuff delays artery reopening, leading to underestimated systolic readings. Their work suggests that simple tweaks, like raising the arm before testing, could dramatically improve accuracy without the need for expensive new devices.