Have you ever wondered why your blood pressure fluctuates? Here is a list of common activities and their impact on your blood pressure.

Attending a meeting: +20.2/15.0
Working: +16.0/+13.0
Commuting: +14.0/+9.2
Walking: +12.0/+5.5
Dressing: +11.5/+9.7
Doing chores: +10.7/+.67
Talking on telephone: +9.5/7.2
Eating: +8.8/9.6
Talking: 6.7/6.7
Doing desk work: 5.9/5.3
Reading: +1.9/+2.2
Doing business (at home): +1.6/+3.2
Watching television: +0.3/+1.1
Sleeping: -10.0/-7.6
(Changes are relative to blood pressure while relaxing)

Please see
“Accurate blood pressure measurement. Why does it matter?” by Norman R. C. Campbell, MD and Donald W. McKay, PhD. CMAJ, August 10, 1999; 161 (3). Data can be viewed at http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/161/3/277 for original table.