[Gimp-user] Any automatic way to use the Measure Tool for angles of 0 and 90 degrees?

[A GIMP user <gimp_user glib com>]

When I use the Measure Tool I often want to measure a distance that's 
either vertically eight above, right below or on the same horizontal 
level as the starting point.

Sometimes wiggling the mouse back and forth takes quite a while before 
the line that's measuring the distance is at 0° or 90°. I'm wondering if 
there's any way to have the Measure Tool just automatically set the 
measurement at one of those angles from the starting point?  I'm using 
GIMP 2.8.22.

Thanks for any help on this.