High Blood Pressure

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I don't think I'm getting an accurate result, but I use one of those automated blood pressure machines in places like CVS and Wal-Mart and my blood pressure is off the charts. I've gotten a reading as high as 166/100 recently, which is impossible because I'm not overweight, I exercise regularly, and I don't eat a lot of salty/fatty foods. When I check myself however, I feel really nervous that it's going to come out with a high number and I guess that's what drives it up. I'm so focused on trying to hold my breath or doing something that will prevent my blood pressure from skyrocketing that I end up getting a reading I don't want. When I check it multiple times, it starts to come down as I'm used to sitting in the chair and it comes down to almost normal levels, but I don't think it should come up high in the first place. Some say those machines are inaccurate, but to what extent?

I also check it sometime in the late morning/early afternoon instead of early morning before breakfast, so that could also be a factor.

Your high reading may be due to your nervousness. If you're nervous your heart pumps harder. Which is probably why your result is high the first time around, but when you're not as nervous it goes down. Holding your breath doesn't work, but taking slow and deep breaths before the test might help. * I hope this helps *