Why do they tell you to uncross your legs?

Your doctor will often tell you to uncross your legs because blood pressure rises slightly when you cross your legs at the knee. Some people are even able to use this increase in blood pressure to their advantage by crossing their legs to prevent an impending faint.

How does leg position affect blood pressure?

Background: Crossing the ankles in the sitting position has no effect on blood pressure (BP), but BP increases when legs are crossed at the knee level. The physiological mechanism responsible for this BP increase is a higher cardiac output (CO), but not a higher total peripheral resistance (TPR).

Will raising legs lower blood pressure?

Lowers pressure Elevating your legs can help lower the pressure in your legs by allowing blood that has pooled to drain away. If you’ve been standing for a while, sitting down with your legs raised can also help ease pressure and tenderness of tired feet.

Why do your feet need to be on the ground for blood pressure?

When blood pressure is measured, subjects should be instructed to have feet flat on the floor to eliminate a potential source of error.

What does crossing your legs do?

Crossing your legs isn’t doing your circulation or your veins any favors. A cross-legged position puts unnecessary pressure on specific areas of your body. This pressure can lead to circulatory problems and ultimately contribute to vein disease, or venous insufficiency.

Why can’t I cross my legs knee over knee?

Being unable to sit cross-legged for a long time is a clear sign that you have tense muscles. – When you sit cross-legged, your ankles put more pressure on the arteries of your inner thighs. This makes your heart pump more blood, leading to a better blood supply to all parts of the body.

Can you take blood pressure lying down?

Currently, the American Heart Association recommends that blood pressure readings be taken when you’re sitting down. However, in some cases you may have your blood pressure taken while lying down or while standing.

Does blood pressure increase with legs elevated?

Crossing your legs has shown to raise your systolic blood pressure by 2 to 8 mmHg. The positioning of your upper arm below your heart level will also result in higher measurements, whereas positioning your upper arm above your heart level will give you lower measurements.

Can I take my blood pressure with my feet up?

Always try to use the bathroom before getting a reading. Poor support for your feet or back while seated can raise your blood pressure reading by 6 to 10 points. You should sit in a chair with your back supported and feet flat on the floor or a footstool. Crossing your legs can add 2 to 8 points to your reading.

How should you sit when you take your blood pressure?

During the measurement, sit in a chair with your feet on the floor and your arm supported so your elbow is at about heart level. The inflatable part of the cuff should completely cover at least 80\% of your upper arm, and the cuff should be placed on bare skin, not over a shirt. Don’t talk during the measurement.

Is crossing your legs bad for You?

Crossing your legs may draw attention to varicose veins but it’s not their cause. Leg crossing has also been suggested (mostly by chiropractors) to lead to bad posture and its downstream effects on the back, hip and pelvis. Certainly, those with back and hip problems may experience discomfort when crossing their legs.

How to relax during a blood pressure test?

Restricted Breathing. Holding your breath because you are nervous will raise your blood pressure. Breathe slowly and deeply like the doctor tells you to when listening to your heart with a stethoscope. Breathing slowly and evenly will help your body to relax.

What does crossing the legs mean?

Crossing the legs, like crossing the arms, indicates a defensive attitude. While arm-crossing is a subconscious attempt by a person to protect their vital organs, the heart and the lungs, crossing the legs is an attempt to protect the genitals.