110: Why Your Blood Pressure Reading Might Be Totally Wrong!

When most people think about blood pressure, they think about a once-a-year reading at a doctor’s office. But one measurement on one day doesn’t tell you much about your cardiovascular health. Just like a single fasting glucose number doesn’t reveal your metabolic state, a one-off blood pressure check is largely meaningless. Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day based on stress, sleep, exercise, hydration, and countless other factors. And even more important: the cuff on your arm measures brachial pressure — not the central pressure your heart and organs actually experience. That distinction matters. The true risk isn’t just the number on a cuff, it’s how elastic your arteries are and how much pressure your aorta is under. Elastic vessels absorb the shock of each heartbeat, while stiff ones reflect it back toward the heart and raise central pressure. That’s why arterial stiffness is such a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk, especially as we age or when diet and lifestyle accelerate inflammation and plaque buildup. In this episode, I explain how modern devices can go beyond a simple systolic/diastolic reading. Using pulse wave analysis, they can estimate central blood pressure, pulse pressure, augmentation pressure, augmentation index, and oxygen supply-demand balance in the heart muscle. I share some of my own readings — including cases where a cuff reading looked “high” but the deeper markers showed excellent elasticity and low central pressure. It’s a reminder that context matters far more than one isolated number. The takeaway is clear: don’t let a single reading define your health. Look at patterns over time. Pay attention to central pressure and vessel elasticity. And above all, address the lifestyle drivers that really move the needle — diet, sleep, movement, stress, and balancing electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Elevated blood pressure is not written in your genes; it’s usually written in your habits. Learn more: 👉 Get the Conneqt Pulse monitor — the device I use to track central blood pressure and arterial stiffness: https://michaelkummer.com/go/conneqt What It Means to Be Metabolically Healthy: https://michaelkummer.com/metabolic-health/ Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, OneSkin! OneSkin’s lineup of topical skin health products leverage the power of the company’s proprietary OS-01 peptide to remove dead skin cells, improve collagen production, increase skin hydration and more. Check out my before and after photos in my OneSkin review: https://michaelkummer.com/health/oneskin-review/ Get 15% off with my discount code MKUMMER: https://michaelkummer.com/go/oneskinshop In this episode: 00:00 Intro 00:20 Why annual blood pressure readings are misleading 03:42 Understanding blood pressure and its measurement 04:37 Factors influencing blood pressure 07:34 Historical perspective on blood pressure ranges 09:19 The importance of arterial elasticity 11:37 The role of sodium and potassium 13:44 Advanced blood pressure metrics 18:55 Personal insights and recommendations 22:06 Conclusion and final thoughts Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health. [Affiliate Disclaimer] I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you’d like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code. #BloodPressure #Conneqt