| According to the American Heart Association, | | | | doctor's office right away, you can also take your |
| somewhere in the area of 74.5 million people above | | | | device to a local pharmacist for proper instruction, as |
| the age of 20 suffer from high blood pressure (BP) | | | | most pharmacists are educated in proper use of BP |
| also known as hypertension. That's one out of every | | | | devices. Be sure to follow the manufacturer |
| three adults in the US alone. Prevention is one of the | | | | directions as well when it comes to maintaining your |
| easiest and most effective means of combating | | | | device since most BP monitors require being |
| heart health issues throughout adulthood. With regular | | | | recalibrated once every year. |
| use of a blood pressure monitor, you can take an | | | | So what exactly is blood pressure? |
| active role in maintaining your heart health in your | | | | As the heart pumps blood throughout the circulatory |
| own prevention plan. | | | | system, the blood vessels expand and contract with |
| If you suffer from high blood pressure and you're | | | | the outward pressure of the blood flowing through |
| relying on BP readings from the machine at the local | | | | the veins and arteries. In any blood pressure reading |
| grocery store or if you're only getting your BP | | | | there are two types of blood pressure being |
| monitored at the doctor's office, you are seriously | | | | measured. The first is systolic pressure, and it is the |
| placing your health in jeopardy. Using a heart rate | | | | point at which the blood vessels are at their |
| monitor to track your pulse throughout the day is a | | | | maximum expansion as the blood passes through. At |
| step in the right direction, but a heart rate monitor | | | | this point the heart is also at the end of a cardiac |
| won't measure your BP, which is a much greater | | | | cycle, with the ventricles being completely |
| indicator of your overall level of risk. With the use of | | | | contracted. The other is diastolic pressure, which |
| a blood pressure monitor, you can easily and | | | | occurs when the ventricles in the heart expand, filling |
| conveniently check your BP throughout the day to | | | | with blood and relieving pressure on the blood |
| get a base line of what is normal for you and to | | | | vessels. So the diastolic pressure measurement is |
| identify the times of the day in which your BP may | | | | recorded at the lowest point in the cycle when a |
| reach more critical levels. | | | | minimum pressure level is present on the blood vessel |
| The degree of present technology inherent in | | | | walls. Think of blood pressure in sort of a wave |
| modern blood pressure monitor designs renders the | | | | pattern, with systolic pressure occurring in the |
| process of checking BP throughout the day nearly | | | | upward curve and diastolic pressure occurring on the |
| effortless. You can still do things the "old fashioned" | | | | curve downward. |
| way with an analog or manual device, but the newer | | | | These two measurements - systolic and diastolic |
| electronic blood pressure monitors on the market | | | | pressure - are what get measured during a given BP |
| today make regular checks of your BP a nearly | | | | reading. Since these rates may vary throughout the |
| effortless task - with readings displayed digitally or | | | | day based on level of activity and other factors, it is |
| even on paper to discuss with your doctor. | | | | good idea to take several BP readings each day or |
| Once you settle on a specific device, bring your blood | | | | only measure your BP at the same time each day. |
| pressure monitor to your doctor's office so he or she | | | | With all this in mind, you and your physician can begin |
| can properly adjust the fit and demonstrate how to | | | | to get a good idea of your present heart health and |
| use your device. If you're not able to get to the | | | | what changes you may need to make. |