A 55-year-old bookkeeper comes to your office for a routine visit. You note that on a previous visit for treatment of contact dermatitis, her blood pressure was elevated. She does not have prior elevated readings and her family history is negative for hypertension. You measure her blood pressure in your office today. Which of the following factors can result in a false high reading?

Answer is that the blood pressure cuff is tightly fitted.

Explanation:

Contact dermatitis is a skin condition, where a red itchy rash is found or seen on the skin. This could be through a direct contact with irritants or being allergic to a substance.

Contact dermatitis has not been linked to cause or been a result of blood pressure.

It should be noted ,the model and size of the blood pressure cuff can affect the blood pressure reading. This is because, the blood pressure cuff that is too large will give a false low reading while the one that is too small, will be tight, and  will give a false high reading.

In this case, the blood pressure cuff used for the 55-year-old bookkeeper would probably be small, which would be tight and eventually give an elevated readings.