How To Measure Your Blood pressure using a Digital Blood pressure meter

What is Blood pressure

Your Heat pumps blood into your blood vessels and it is circulated throughout your body. Circulating blood exerts pressure over your Blood vessels ( tubes that carry blood). This force is called blood pressure. Your blood pressure changes from second to second. But it is maintained within a normal range. The normal blood pressure of one person is different from that of another person. Your blood pressure also changes with Exercise. time of the day, Stress, Eating, Smoking, etc.

Blood pressure going above the normal range is called high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension can cause several serious complications including Heart attaches, Strokes, Kidney Failure, and Blindness. On most occasions, high blood pressure does not cause any symptoms. So you don’t diagnose it until you develop complications. If you are Someone with high blood pressure it is important that you measure your blood pressure regularly to make sure that it is controlled with medications. In this guide, we will tell you how to measure your blood pressure at home with an automatic blood pressure monitor.

Why should you measure BP at home

Most health systems recommend home blood pressure monitoring. If done properly blood pressure reading is done in a comfortable relaxed environment like home may give more accurate results compared to a busy doctor’s clinic. If you can keep a record of these blood pressure readings .your doctor can adjust your medications accordingly and you will have proper BP control.

Steps to follow when taking a blood pressure reading

First of all select a comfortable relaxed environment. Avoid eating, Smoking, Exercise, and caffeine at least 30 minutes before taking the measurements. If you are taking blood pressure medications, do the BP measurements before taking your medication. Avoid tight clothes. Select a blood pressure cuff suitable to your arms Size. If the cuff is too small, it gives a higher valuve.

Sit comfortably on a chair. keep your legs apart, flat on the floor. Make sure your back is straight and supported by the chair.. Keep your arm at the level of your heart relaxing on the table. Properly wrap the blood pressure cuff around the upper arm.

Relax for at least five minutes before taking the reading. Avoid talking, eating, and watching Tv While getting the measurements.

Press the start button When you are ready. You will feel the pressure cuff tightening over your arm. Do not move your hand. You will see two measurements. The upper one is called systolic blood pressure and the lower one is called diastolic blood pressure. Keep a record of both measurements. Do this at least two times and make sure you get the same ( Almost ) reading.

Once you finish remove the cuff and keep it clean and dry. Compare your blood pressure with normal blood pressure reading.

measure your blood pressure twice daily, morning and evening. Also, Do this same time every day. If your Systolic blood pressure is above 180mmhg or diastolic blood pressure above 120mmhg, meet your doctor immediately.