So does your blood pressure go down as well?  At my company, we get lower cost health insurance by having low blood pressure (needs to be at or below 120/80).  My BP is sometime a few points above this and I do not get this benefit.  Do not want to stop my heart but just lower the pressure a little to get my points  My guess the average BP measurement is off by 10% at least anyway.  At least I will try to drink a glass of ice water just before the test.  And yes, this is an example of the law of unintended consequences and setting the wrong incentives.