I have never heard of a doctor who prescribes blood pressure medication based upon one reading. Blood pressure readings can vary widely at different times in the same person. An occasional high reading is not dangerous; it is the sustained high readings that are dangerous. Most doctors ask you to get a blood pressure cuff and monitor your pressure at home for several weeks -- taking it at different times of the day -- before considering prescribing medication. If I were you, I would monitor your blood pressure yourself for a while before agreeing to medication.

If you buy your own digital blood pressure monitor -- which I recommend -- the ones that fit the upper arm are somewhat more accurate than the ones that fit the wrist. It's a good idea to calibrate it with the doctor's monitor to make sure it is working correctly -- take it into the doctor's office and have them measure your pressure with their cuff and then measure it with your cuff.