High blood pressure Part 3 – checking BP
Posted: Sunday, November 13, 2011
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
As home tests go, this is perhaps the easiest and most painless one of all. It is done at the health provider’s office, at a pharmacy such as CVS or Rite-Aid, even at Wal-Mart, and at home.
In the office, a nurse or the doctor inflates a cuff around the arm, just above the elbow. The resulting numbers consist of two blood pressure readings – the pumps of the heart and between the beats of the heart.
When the numbers are consistently high, either top or bottom number or both, it may mean that the patient has high blood pressure. If the top number reads high, it is referred to as systolic pressure and it denotes the heart beats. When the bottom number result is high, then it is the diastolic pressure and it means the resting heart between beats.
The doctor should state a normal range for the patient or an expected normal.
If the determination has been made about high blood pressure and the need to control it, an advisable next step is to purchase a blood pressure monitor for home use. With this device, it becomes possible to take readings as may be suggested by the medical staff or on a regular basis that the individual determines.
Some suggestions for using a blood pressure monitor –
- Read all instructions. Carefully follow them.
- Take the reading a half hour to an hour after drinking coffee or smoking.
- Relax for several minutes.
- Take the blood pressure.
- Wait five minutes.
- Retake the blood pressure.
It’s easy to check blood pressure. Today’s monitors are sophisticated and simple to use. I was advised to use an arm cuff but monitors come in varying styles (and prices).
It is important to keep the log. Nothing to it, but over time with or without medication, the readings tell a story.
The Old Gray Mare writes for www.DressYourHorse.com and her Blog sites.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)We have one monitor as my husband has high blood pressure for the convenience. If sometimes it reads extraordinary then my husband will take precaution. There is no cure for high blood pressure. He has been on the pills for years.
Hi Hilda. Thanks for the read and comment. If you use the monitor, then you know how convenient they are to use. Beats having to run to a store to use theirs or to the doc's office. It is important to get the trend though. If you get put on medication, then it's important to see if the meds work and to get the trend. I have been fighting BP for a long time.
I like to take my blood pressure at Sam's Club, as I wait for prescriptions for family members. Be sure not to do it after running around, or it will be higher, as will your heart rate.That works, taking it at Sam's. If you have a diagnosis of high BP though, just taking it occasionally doesn't cut it. You have to get the checks done to establish how high, how often - well you know. After running around, the BP would definitely be running high because of the activity. But then they also like to check how long it takes the heart rate to drop back to normal. That's also a factor in some cases. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Very good article!Thank you so much. Everyday speak for a very important subject.
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