A new study found a minor difference between blood pressure measurements taken in public spaces compared to those in private offices.

"In contrast to prevailing beliefs, our finding suggests that the impact of a noisy public space on BP readings is small and not clinically relevant," the researchers concluded. Earlier studies might have found higher blood pressure readings in noisy settings due to factors other than the hustle and bustle.

New research challenges traditional blood pressure measurement guidelines by showing that public spaces, even noisy ones, yield BP readings nearly identical to those obtained in quiet, private settings.

Don’t worry if someone’s checking your blood pressure in a loud public place. The reading they get is apt to be just as accurate as if the test were taking place in a quiet, less stressful environment,