When I measure my blood pressure at home, the reading is always higher in one arm. Should I worry?

Most often, a small difference in blood pressure readings between arms isn't a concern. But a difference of more than 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) might cause worry. The difference can be in the top number, known as systolic pressure. Or it can be in the bottom number, known as diastolic pressure.

People who have a blood pressure difference between arms of 10 to 15 mm Hg for systolic pressure over and over are more likely to have vascular disease. They also have a greater risk of getting heart disease over time.

A difference of more than 10 mm Hg in blood pressure measurement between the arms over and over can be a sign of a health condition such as:

  • Blocked blood vessels in the arms, known as peripheral artery disease.
  • Atypical connections between blood vessels in the arms, known as fistulas.
  • Persistent opening between two major blood vessels leading from the heart, known as patent ductus arteriosus.

If you have a large difference in blood pressure readings between arms, talk to your healthcare professional. Your healthcare professional might use the arm with the higher reading to measure your blood pressure in the future.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Nov. 05, 2024 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Medication-free hypertension control
  2. Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure?
  3. Alpha blockers
  4. Amputation and diabetes
  5. Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?
  6. Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis
  7. Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar?
  8. #AskMayoMom Pediatric Urology
  9. Beta blockers
  10. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain?
  11. Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise?
  12. Birth control pill FAQ
  13. Blood glucose meters
  14. Blood glucose monitors
  15. Blood pressure chart
  16. Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?
  17. Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern?
  18. Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather?
  19. Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight?
  20. Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?
  21. Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home?
  22. Blood pressure test
  23. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons
  24. Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how
  25. Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes
  26. How kidneys work
  27. Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
  28. Caffeine and hypertension
  29. Calcium channel blockers
  30. Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?
  31. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
  32. Central-acting agents
  33. Choosing blood pressure medicines
  34. Chronic daily headaches
  35. Chronic kidney disease
  36. Chronic kidney disease: Is a clinical trial right for me?
  37. Coarctation of the aorta
  38. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
  39. Cushing syndrome
  40. DASH diet
  41. DASH diet: Recommended servings
  42. Sample DASH menus
  43. Diabetes
  44. Diabetes and depression: Coping with the two conditions
  45. Diabetes and exercise: When to monitor your blood sugar
  46. Diabetes and heat
  47. 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications
  48. Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?
  49. Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
  50. Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar?
  51. Diabetes and liver
  52. Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
  53. Diabetes symptoms
  54. Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar?
  55. Using insulin
  56. Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?
  57. Diuretics: Cause of gout?
  58. Dizziness
  59. Do infrared saunas have any health benefits?
  60. Drug addiction (substance use disorder)
  61. Eating right for chronic kidney disease
  62. High blood pressure and exercise
  63. Fibromuscular dysplasia
  64. Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate?
  65. Home blood pressure monitoring
  66. Glomerulonephritis
  67. Glycemic index: A helpful tool for diabetes?
  68. Guillain-Barre syndrome
  69. Headache and Migraine
  70. Headaches and hormones
  71. Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms
  72. Heart and Blood Health
  73. Herbal supplements and heart drugs
  74. High blood pressure (hypertension)
  75. High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe?
  76. High blood pressure dangers
  77. How does IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) cause kidney damage?
  78. How opioid use disorder occurs
  79. How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids
  80. What is hypertension? A Mayo Clinic expert explains.
  81. Hypertension FAQs
  82. Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?
  83. Hypothermia
  84. I have IgA nephrology. Will I need a kidney transplant?
  85. IgA nephropathy (Berger disease)
  86. Insulin and weight gain
  87. Intracranial hematoma
  88. Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?
  89. What is kidney disease? An expert explains
  90. Kidney disease FAQs
  91. Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective
  92. Kratom for opioid withdrawal
  93. L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
  94. Late-night eating: OK if you have diabetes?
  95. Lead poisoning
  96. Living with IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) and C3G
  97. Low-phosphorus diet: Helpful for kidney disease?
  98. Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure
  99. Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
  100. Molar pregnancy
  101. MRI: Is gadolinium safe for people with kidney problems?
  102. New Test for Preeclampsia
  103. Nighttime headaches: Relief
  104. Nosebleeds
  105. Obstructive sleep apnea
  106. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  107. Opioid stewardship: What is it?
  108. Pain Management
  109. Pheochromocytoma
  110. Picnic Problems: High Sodium
  111. Pituitary tumors
  112. Polycystic kidney disease
  113. Polypill: Does it treat heart disease?
  114. Poppy seed tea: Beneficial or dangerous?
  115. Porphyria
  116. Postpartum preeclampsia
  117. Preeclampsia
  118. Prescription drug abuse
  119. Primary aldosteronism
  120. Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
  121. Mayo Clinic Minute: Rattlesnakes, scorpions and other desert dangers
  122. Reactive hypoglycemia: What can I do?
  123. Renal diet for vegetarians
  124. Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?
  125. Scorpion sting
  126. Secondary hypertension
  127. Serotonin syndrome
  128. Sleep deprivation: A cause of high blood pressure?
  129. Sleep tips
  130. Snoring
  131. Sodium
  132. Spider bites
  133. Symptom Checker
  134. Takayasu's arteritis
  135. Tapering off opioids: When and how
  136. Tetanus
  137. Tetanus shots: Is it risky to receive 'extra' boosters?
  138. The dawn phenomenon: What can you do?
  139. Understanding complement 3 glomerulopathy (C3G)
  140. Understanding IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease)
  141. Vasodilators
  142. Vegetarian diet: Can it help me control my diabetes?
  143. Vesicoureteral reflux
  144. Video: Heart and circulatory system
  145. How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor
  146. How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor
  147. Obstructive sleep apnea: What happens?
  148. What is blood pressure?
  149. Can a lack of vitamin D cause high blood pressure?
  150. What are opioids and why are they dangerous?
  151. White coat hypertension
  152. Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate?
  153. Xylazine
  154. Effectively managing chronic kidney disease
  155. Mayo Clinic Minute: Do not share pain medication
  156. Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid opioids for chronic pain
  157. Mayo Clinic Minute: Be careful not to pop pain pills
  158. Mayo Clinic Minute: Out of shape kids and diabetes