Cardiologist and hypertension expert Dr. Saleh Al-Ghamdi warned against diagnosing patients with high blood pressure based on a single reading in emergency departments, stressing that this practice does not conform to approved medical standards and may lead to administering blood pressure-lowering medications without genuine medical justification.

Al-Ghamdi explained via his account on the 'X' platform that a patient's presence in the hospital is often accompanied by stress or pain, which may cause a temporary rise in blood pressure that does not reflect the actual condition. He pointed out that a reading such as 155/81 mmHg does not usually warrant administering a fast-acting sublingual medication unless there is a sharp spike in pressure or an emergency requiring immediate intervention.

He added that administering blood pressure-lowering drugs in such cases may lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure, increasing the risk of losing balance and falling when standing. He noted that a doctor focusing on a single blood pressure reading at the expense of the patient's primary complaint is considered an unsound medical practice.

Al-Ghamdi pointed out that patient anxiety in hospitals, along with the failure of some healthcare practitioners to adhere to correct blood pressure measurement standards, may result in inaccurate readings. He warned against informing patients that they have hypertension before verifying the accuracy of the measurements and reassessing them according to approved guidelines.

Al-Ghamdi revealed the top three causes leading to misdiagnosis of high blood pressure:

• White coat syndrome (fear of clinics and hospitals): Causes a temporary rise in blood pressure that does not reflect the patient's true condition.

• Presence of an acute illness: Such as a severe headache or influenza, which temporarily raises blood pressure.

• Errors in blood pressure measurement: Including using a cuff that does not fit the patient's arm size.

Al-Ghamdi emphasized the need to adhere to approved medical guidelines when measuring blood pressure and not to rely on a single reading to make a diagnosis or start treatment, except in emergency cases requiring urgent medical intervention.