The Truth You Need to Know About High Blood Pressure and How To Monitor It

In some estimations nearly 1 in 3 American adults hasdecision. First of all you will need to decide on an
high blood pressure. Once high blood pressureAneroid Blood Pressure Monitor versus a Digital Blood
develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. It is veryPressure Monitor. The aneroid monitors have a round,
important to control and treat high blood pressure asglass covered dial that gives you the reading (it
many people have high blood pressure for yearsreplaces the mercury manometer in professional
without knowing it. High blood pressure is dangerousclinical monitors), and they usually have manually
because it makes the heart work too hard and it alsopumped cuffs and are accompanied by a
results in the hardening of artery walls. High bloodstethoscope. As such they require some skills in
pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke.taking blood pressure - which in fact can be quickly
Very high pressure can cause a break in a weakenedand easily learnt. The digital monitors have either
blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain resultingmanually or automatic pumped cuffs and come with
in a stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of thea built in LCD screen that shows the reading.
narrowed by hardening arteries, it can also cause aRecently many popular models allow for wrist or
stroke. Sometimes high blood pressure can causeeven finger readings. The digital blood pressure
blood vessels in the eye to burst or bleed, what canmonitors are the easiest to use. The other important
impair vision and can result in blindness. High bloodfactors that you may need to consider when
pressure also increases the risk for heart disease andchoosing a blood pressure monitor are the cuff sizes.
for heart attack. As arteries bring oxygen-carryingSome monitors come with large and small cuffs. It is
blood to the heart muscle the artery hardening andessential that the correct size of cuff for the
narrowing due to high blood pressure may cause thecircumference of the patient's arm is used. If the
heart not to get enough oxygen, and may result in acuff is too small, the blood pressure readings are too
chest pain, also known as angina. When the flow ofhigh and with an over-large cuff blood pressure
blood in heart arteries is blocked, that results in areading are too low. In practice, cuffs must be clearly
heart attack. High blood pressure is the number onemarked with the appropriate maximum and minimum
risk factor for congestive heart failure, a seriousarm sizes to which they apply. As the accuracy might
condition in which the heart is unable to pump enoughbe the most important factor you need to realize
blood to supply the body's needs. It can also cause athat some "cool" looking finger cuff or watch based
kidney disease. That happens over time, with highunits may frequently not be as accurate as arm units
blood pressure narrowing and thickening the bloodfor some people. The same may also concern certain
vessels of the kidneys. When it happens, the kidneyswrist models. Moreover, a systematic error can occur
filter less fluid, and metabolic waste builds up in thedue to differences in the position of the wrist relative
blood. In certain stages the kidneys may failto the heart. The other blood pressure monitor
altogether and medical intervention as dialysis or afeatures are more of your personal preference
kidney transplant may be necessary.nature and may include:
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood- Automatic inflation with fuzzy logic - usually
Institute under normal conditions in adults who areautomatically adjusts to changes in your blood
not taking medicines to treat high blood pressure andpressure and allows simple, one button operation.
are not having certain other illnesses a blood pressure- Memory features - some digital models have
reading below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal.memory features build in and allow to store certain
When your systolic pressure reaches 120-139 or yournumbers of readings in the device internal memory.
diastolic pressure reaches 80-89 then it is considered- Display size - some oversized displays are easier to
prehypertension. According to that classification thereread and they may show other unit features as
are two stages of high blood pressure:clock, date, memory stored data, etc.
- Stage 1 when systolic pressure reaches 140-149 or- Power supply - there are models that may include
diastolic pressure reaches 90-99, andAC adapter for home use convenience.
- Stage 2 when systolic pressure is 160 or higher or- PC connection - some newest model come with
when diastolic pressure is 100 or higher.software and cables to connect to personal
As an example a blood pressure 120/100 mmHg iscomputers, what gives the ability of better data
considered Stage 2 high blood pressure.storage and usually of much better graphical
Two methods have been used most frequently forrepresentation and analysis of long term
non invasive blood pressure measurement. The firstmeasurements. Additionally, they allow for easy
method, usually used in ambulatory settings is calledprinting out of the long term reading takings to
an auscultatory (from the Latin for listening) method,present them to your doctor.
and requires the use of a stethoscope and a- Easy of use - if you are not a techno geek you
sphygmomanometer. In this method an inflatable cuffmay like to stick with simper models not overloaded
of appropriate size is placed around the upper armwith functions, which you may never use and which
and kept at the heart level and is attached to asometimes can make the use of base functions
mercury or aneroid manometer. In auscultatoryconfusing. Remember, it's a blood pressure meter
method the cuff is inflated manually and listening withyou are looking for.
the stethoscope to the brachial artery at the elbow,- Warranty - may vary from one to several years.
while slowly releasing the pressure in the cuff allows- Price - buying online may usually bring your costs
an experienced examiner to take a correct reading.down, but you will need to do your research, and it is
In the second method called oscillometric method,always safer to buy from a reputable company in
which is frequently used in general practice and also incase you have warranty issues or you would simply
at home measurements, an electronic pressurelike to return the product. There are several
sensor is fitted in the cuff to detect blood flow,reputable online companies which sell blood pressure
instead of using the stethoscope. Most frequently inmonitors.
such monitors the cuff is inflated and released by anIf you are not sure if your home blood pressure
electrically operated pump and valve. Oscillometricmonitor gives you correct readings, you may take it
monitors often vary widely in accuracy, and shouldwith you to your doctor's office and compare there
be checked at specified intervals and if necessarythe readings of your monitor to those taken on the
recalibrated. There are certain restrictions when,same occasion by your nurse or doctor using their
oscillometric monitors do not give correct readings,professional monitor.
like in certain medical conditions such as arterialA common misconception is that the high blood
sclerosis, arrhythmia and also some others.pressure does not develop and thus does not need
Certain advantage of taking blood pressure readingsto be checked until person reaches a middle age. In
at home or work with a home blood pressurefact, even children as young as 6 years old can have
monitoring device is to help avoid false readings froma high blood pressure. The American Heart
the so called white coat hypertension effect (whenAssociation advises to start having your blood
readings taken in ambulatory settings tend to bepressure checked at an early age to help prevent the
higher then those taken at home for some people).development of debilitating high blood pressure
As increasingly more people are measuring their ownrelated conditions.
blood pressure at home, there is more interest toTalk to your doctor or your nurse about monitoring
know what devices are recommended. There is aat home. Many health professionals actively
wide range of blood pressure meters available to theencourage people with high blood pressure to take
public with plenty of good choices along with someand monitor their readings themselves. You can
not so good ones. It is thus important to do at leastdiscuss how often you need to take readings and
a minimal research to be able to make an informedwhen you need to contact your doctor's office. You
purchase, which should serve well your health. Whencan work together with your health care provider to
choosing a blood pressure monitor you need toensure you are well informed and that your blood
consider several factors before you make a purchasepressure is being treated effectively.