Why does the doctor take only 1 bp reading?

Q: One of the tips from RESPeRATE is to average three checks of blood pressure. Sounds good to me. So why, when I go to the doctor, does he only take one measurement and makes decisions on this one measurement?

A: When an initial blood pressure reading is normal at a doctor visit, for the sake of time, it is usually just recorded on the chart. With repeated visits, multiple blood pressure readings end up being recorded so the doctor has a clear idea of what your blood pressure is doing. With an abnormal initial reading, doctors have their own protocol. Some will wait 15-20 minutes to recheck your pressure. Others will want you to schedule several return visits just for a blood pressure check.

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