Blood Pressure Troubleshooting Guide

Blood Pressure Troubleshooting Guide

If your blood pressure readings seem too high, too low, or don't match your cuff, this guide will help you find out why. Most differences have a simple cause that's easy to fix.

⚠️ If you feel unwell: If you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, a severe headache or changes in your vision, contact a medical professional or emergency services straight away. Don't wait to troubleshoot your band.

First: Check How You're Wearing Your Band

Band position is the most common cause of inaccurate blood pressure readings. Check all three:

✅ Position: Your band sits about one finger-width above your wrist bone, not on the bone itself

✅ Contact: The sensor is flat against your skin, not rotated to the side

✅ Fit: Your band is snug but comfortable, and doesn't slide around when you move your wrist

If any of these are off, adjust your band and take a new reading before carrying on. See How to Wear Your Band Correctly for the full guide.

Step 1: Use One Key Measurement to Compare

The hourly blood pressure reading in the app may be up to 60 minutes old, so it isn't suitable for comparing with a cuff.

Instead:

1. Open the QWatch Pro app
2. Start a One Key Measurement
3. Take your cuff reading at the same time
4. Compare the two readings

Taking both readings at the same moment is the best way to compare your band with a cuff.

Step 2: Sit Correctly and Stay Still

Blood pressure readings are very sensitive to movement and posture. During any reading:

• Sit upright with your back supported
• Keep your feet flat on the floor and your legs uncrossed
• Rest your arm on a flat surface at heart level, around chest height
• Don't talk, move or fidget
• Wait until the reading has finished before moving

Even small movements can change the result.

Step 3: Choose the Right Time

Your blood pressure naturally changes throughout the day with activity, meals, stress and time of day. For the most consistent readings:

• Rest quietly for at least 5 minutes first
• Avoid measuring straight after exercise, caffeine, alcohol or a large meal
• Take readings at the same time each day
• Avoid measuring when you feel stressed or anxious

Step 4: Understand Normal Differences

Some difference between your band and a cuff is expected:

• Differences of up to 10 mmHg can be normal
• Blood pressure changes from moment to moment, so even two cuff readings taken a few minutes apart won't match exactly
• Your band measures at your wrist using light-based sensors, while a cuff measures at your upper arm using pressure, so the two naturally give slightly different results

If the difference is much bigger than this, work through all the steps in this guide. If it's still large afterwards, contact us.

Step 5: Give It Time

Your band is designed to track trends over time. If you've just started wearing it, allow a few weeks of consistent wear for your blood pressure trends to settle.

Common Questions

"My band reads much higher or lower than my cuff"

The most common causes are the band's position, a loose fit, or movement during the reading. Check your fit and position, sit still with your arm at heart level, and take both readings again at the same time using One Key Measurement.

"My readings change a lot throughout the day"

This is normal. Blood pressure isn't a fixed number, it changes all the time. The trend graph in the app is more useful than any single reading.

"My reading is very high or very low"

An unusual reading can be caused by movement or the sensor losing contact with your skin, so adjust your band, sit still and take the reading again.

If it's still very high or very low, check it with a blood pressure cuff. A reading higher than 180 (top number) and/or higher than 120 (bottom number) is considered severely high. If your cuff shows a reading at this level, speak to a healthcare professional promptly. If you also have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or a severe headache, contact emergency services straight away.

When to Contact Us

Contact us if:

• You've followed all the steps above and your readings are still very different from your cuff
• Your band isn't taking blood pressure readings at all
• One Key Measurement isn't working in the app

Email us at info@hlthtrack.com with a description of the issue and, if possible, a photo showing how you're wearing your band.

Important

Your band's blood pressure readings are designed for tracking trends over time. They aren't a replacement for a clinically validated blood pressure monitor, and shouldn't be used to make decisions about medication or treatment. If you have any concerns about your blood pressure, speak to a qualified healthcare professional.

Still have questions? Email us at info@hlthtrack.com.