Why Getting Your Own Monitor can Help You Lower Your Blood Pressure

Improving Your Blood Pressure at Home

According to a study published by the 'British Medical Journal', people who monitor their own blood pressure at home have improved control of their condition and have lower blood pressure than people who only use the healthcare system. <br/><br/> Now that blood pressure measuring devices are fully automatic, easy to read, accurate and relatively inexpensive, there has never been a better time to start measuring your own blood pressure. <br/><br/> The Advantages of Measuring your own Blood Pressure <br/><br/> The advantages of measuring your own blood pressure at home are: <br/><br/> - High blood pressure has few symptoms, so it can be important to know your own blood pressure levels. <br/> - Blood pressure levels change throughout the day, therefore multiple home readings can create a more accurate picture than a single reading made at a clinic. <br/> - You can measure your blood pressure over the course of a few days, a week or a month for improved accuracy. <br/> - The measurements can be used to check if lifestyle changes or medication are improving your blood pressure. <br/> - Home readings alleviate the proverbial 'White Coat Syndrome' which can significantly increase a person's blood pressure. <br/> - It can empower an individual and bring an improved sense of responsibility for health, providing motivation to find ways of improving blood pressure. <br/><br/>

What to look for in a Blood Pressure Monitor <br/><br/> When looking for a monitor, look for the following: <br/><br/> - Arm devices are recommended as they have higher accuracy than wrist monitors. <br/> - Check the monitor has been validated by the British Hypertension Society (wwww.bhsoc.org). This ensures the monitor has been clinically tested for accuracy. <br/> - Cuff size – an incorrect cuff size can lead to inaccurate readings. Most monitors come with a medium cuff which fits the majority of people. Make sure the supplied cuff will fit you and if not, check if alternative cuff sizes are available for that particular device. There are three cuff sizes as follows, with measurements based on the circumference of the upper arm. <br/> 7.1-8,7" Small <br/> 8.8-12.8" Medium <br/> 12.8-18" Large <br/><br/> - It is recommended that you have the monitor, recalibrated every 2 years. This is performed by the manufacturer of the product and will usually include a charge. <br/><br/>

When to Measure your Blood Pressure <br/><br/> Blood pressure varies throughout the day, and it is therefore a good idea to test your blood pressure twice, once in the morning and once again before you go to bed. You can then work out the average for the day. You might want to do this once a week, or over the course of a full week to gain a more accurate picture of your blood pressure. You would then take the average of each day and work out the average blood pressure for the week. Using this you can learn how to lower blood pressure naturally and look into remedies that can help such as Mukta Vati. <br/><br/> Stick to measuring your blood pressure at the same time each day. Do not consume food, caffeine, tobacco or alcohol for at least 30 minutes before taking the reading. <br/><br/>

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