June 24, 2014 
Drivers, not only is cuff size important as explained in this article from the FDA, but also remember that hypertension is not diagnosed with just one reading. Several readings (2-3 readings made at 3 or more separate visits) with your personal physician is usually necessary to see if the elevation is sustained and to diagnose someone with hypertension. When you come in for a DOT physical, the blood pressure should be rechecked again few minutes later if it was elevated initially. If the driver does not have anytime to wait and is willing to return another day, it can be rechecked at that later date. Also, remember, not only can blood pressure be falsely elevated as in the so called “white coat syndrome” it can also be falsely lowered at the doctor’s office and is described with the less familiar term “masked hypertension”. Both white coat syndrome and masked hypertension can affect the proper diagnosis and treatment of your condition. That is why amongst other reasons, that you need to follow up with your primary care doctor even if your blood pressure is good enough to pass your DOT physical. For more information see earlier post on hypertension, and read over the following FDA article.
Blood Pressure Monitoring Kiosks Aren’t for Everyone?.
References:
FDA: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20019580
dotphysicalblog|Queens, NYC 
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