Blood Pressure Measurement Will Be Important To You Sooner Or Later

At some point in a person's life nearly everyone will get high blood pressure. You will probably be very surprised to learn that by age 55, if we don't already have high blood pressure, there is a 90% chance of getting it sometime during the rest of our lives.

Keeping a person's body age younger than their nominal age can mean a long healthy and active life. Accurate monitoring of your blood pressure and treating any abnormality goes a long way in preserving the body's vitality.

Developing high blood pressure and not treating it can lead to high risk factor problems like vision loss, heart attack, kidney disease, and strokes.

High blood pressure is a sinister disease, and is often referred to as the "silent killer." This is because a person's organs have suffered a great bit of damage by the time symptoms of high blood pressure become evident.

If you're concerned about your health over the long-term, it is never too soon to start a blood pressure measurement routine. There are some excellent portable monitoring kits available.

Always make sure your blood pressure measurement is accurate. Even measurements that are off by a few points can put a person's health at risk. Inaccurate readings can lead to not getting treatment when it is needed or getting medications in the wrong dosage. You might not even need treatment since everyone's blood pressure measures high at various times of the day.

Why Blood Pressure Measurement Readings Might Be Inaccurate

Blood pressure monitors are simple, accurate tools for blood pressure measurement. However, because your blood pressure is easily influenced by external factors a single measurement can be highly inaccurate. False readings can temporarily result from simple things like having a full bladder or talking.

But the biggest factor for inaccurate blood pressure measurement is operator error. This is true at your doctor's office or doing it yourself in your home. Studies have shown that nurses, clinical personnel, and doctors rarely follow the standard recommended procedures.

Any casual approach can lead to unreliable measurement results. Accurate blood pressure measurement is essential for good health care and lifestyle choices. The most accurate measurement is when you take several readings each day and determine the average blood pressure. This is easy with a low cost portable blood pressure monitor for use at home.

If it's only possible to get a single reading on an occasional basis (doctor visit) then you need to make your blood pressure measurement as accurate as possible.

Six (6) Steps For Reliable Blood Pressure Measurement

1) Use a cuff-type monitor and make sure the cuff size is the right size for your arm. The size of the cuff is found in the specifications provided for the monitor you purchase. Also, wear a short sleeve blouse or shirt so rolled-up sleeves don't interfere with the reading. Measure your arm and then ask your doctor what size of cuff you need.

2) Avoid stimulants like coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes prior to getting your blood pressure measured. At least 30 minutes is recommended.

3) Make sure you relieve your bladder prior to being measured.

4) It is important to sit down and rest for 5 minutes prior to any measurement. You should feel somewhat relaxed. This relaxation period is more doable at home. Quite often it is not possible at a doctor's office, but take the time if you can before the nurse arrives.

5) Your body position is important for a good reading. Feet should be flat on the floor, your arm supported and resting at heart level, and your back supported by a chair or wall.

6) Realize that your blood pressure can differ between arms. So make sure you use the same arm for your readings. And you should take 3 readings within a couple minutes of each other. Then figure the average of the 3 readings.

If you follow these 6 processes you will get the most accurate reading. From this you can make the best lifestyle and health care choices.

This short video explains how easy it is to monitor your blood pressure at home.