The Correct Way To Take Your Blood Pressure At Home
According to the Spanish Heart Society, people with hypertension should have periodic readings for their treatment and take action if necessary.
The hypertension is a disease that requires monitoring or continuous monitoring of blood pressure as an alteration or sudden change could cause some complications or require medical attention, so one of the treatment options is done take regular blood pressure in home.
Performing this procedure is a simple activity to carry out, however, certain aspects must be taken into account to obtain the most accurate readings possible, since some situations can alter or modify the pressure levels, which does not help to have a precise reference to the behavior of the disease
In this sense, the experts' recommendations for taking blood pressure at home are the following:
Being in a state of relaxation and having been calm for at least the last five minutes prior to starting the measurements, that is, no activity that caused disturbance should be done, such as exercising, running, or having had a dislike, for example.
Not having taken any energy drink such as coffee, tea, or rehydrating sugar. Nor should he have smoked in the last 30 minutes.
Make sure your bladder is empty, so it is advisable to urinate before using the blood pressure monitor.
Have A Good Position
According to MedlinePlus specialists, blood pressure measurement should be done sitting in a chair that is comfortable. Something important is that you should not cross your legs. The next thing is to extend the arm at the level of the heart. Remember not to strain your hand, so you should ensure that it is open and relaxed.
To continue, you will need to make sure that the cuff of the monitor is snug and in direct contact with the skin.
It is important that when you are taking the measurement you do not speak or make movements, as this can interfere with the measurement and alter the voltage values.
The next step will be to write down the results of the reading in a notebook and highlight the date and time at which the pressure test was made, as this information is valuable when informing the doctor and also serves to keep an exact control of your pressure.
How To Monitor The Blood Pressure Monitor?
In addition to the steps outlined above, it is important to bear in mind that a fundamental aspect for a correct pressure reading is the operation of the blood pressure monitor , since if it does not work properly, the care indicated during the measurement will be of no use.
Therefore, the most important thing is that you make sure that the blood pressure monitor is approved , because when you do not use validated devices it is normal for your pressure to be altered, and that will not help your treatment.
That said, you should check that the blood pressure monitor is balanced . This will prevent incorrect readings. This is important to keep in mind because blood pressure monitors tend to become unbalanced frequently.
Likewise, it must be verified that the width of the cuff is adequate, for this you can take the golden rule as a reference, which consists of using a width obtained by measuring the perimeter of the arm and multiplying it by 0.4, according to the recommendations of the staff. of the Spanish Heart Foundation.
How Often Are Pressure Measurements Taken
Pressure taps are a necessary mechanism for the treatment of hypertensive patients, however, they will only be performed as often as the doctor indicates. In the case of those who do not suffer from high blood pressure, it is important to have readings every four years when one is in a range of 14 45 years of age. After 45, readings should be done every two years.