| First let me state I am not a doctor, nor do I have | | | | There is a gauge style. Your blood pressure monitor |
| any formal medical training. I do have high blood | | | | will either be digital or aneroid. The aneroid monitor |
| pressure and after doing some research, I am writing | | | | has a gauge with a dial pointing to the number of |
| this article to point out reasons why you should | | | | your blood pressure. |
| monitor your blood pressure at home. Check with | | | | Some monitors come with a stethoscope. This will |
| your doctor before you take it upon yourself to | | | | allow you to listen to the blood flow through the |
| perform home blood pressure monitoring. | | | | brachial artery in the crook of your elbow. If you are |
| Most people have their blood pressure taken at their | | | | not a trained medical person these sounds will be |
| visits to their doctors. With the loss of jobs and high | | | | difficult for you to interpret. |
| costs of health insurance a lot of people are forced | | | | Home blood pressure monitors are either manual or |
| to forgo these visits. | | | | digital. |
| Years ago my mother went through knee | | | | With the manual you will have to pump a bulb and |
| replacement surgery. I was working as a preschool | | | | check your blood pressure with a stethoscope. |
| assistant teacher and running back and forth checking | | | | Manual monitors are normally less expensive. |
| my mom throughout the day and then back at night | | | | Digital monitors have a cuff and a gauge that records |
| to make sure she ate her dinner. One day I was not | | | | the pressure. With a touch of a button the cuff will |
| feeling well and walked past a blood pressure | | | | automatically inflate. Your heart rate will be calculated |
| machine at the supermarket. I took my blood | | | | and this device will determine your blood pressure by |
| pressure and was amazed to get a reading of 198 | | | | measuring blood flow. The digital monitors can be |
| 112. No wonder I felt awful. I had not been to the | | | | used on your upper arm, wrist or finger. It has been |
| doctor in quite a while. I made an appointment and at | | | | determined that the arm cuffs are most accurate. |
| that point started taking high blood pressure | | | | When buying a monitor check the cuff size to be |
| medication. I remember the doctor saying to me, "I | | | | sure that it will fit your upper arm. |
| honestly do not understand how you are able to sit | | | | The costs of home blood pressure monitors may not |
| here in front of me." | | | | be covered by your health insurance. Prices, |
| For the above reason I realize the importance for | | | | depending on whether you go with the manual or |
| home monitoring. The machine in the supermarket | | | | digital style vary from $25.00 to over $100.00.o After |
| more than likely saved my life. Below are reasons | | | | discussing your specific needs with your doctor and |
| you might want to consider for obtaining a home | | | | deciding on the best home monitor to purchase there |
| monitor: | | | | are a few tips (listed below) to assist you for |
| If you have a medical condition, such as kidney | | | | accurate use.o Take your blood pressure twice daily, |
| problems or diabetes, having a home blood pressure | | | | once in the morning before you take your |
| monitor could help you make an early diagnosis. | | | | medications and once in the evening. Always use |
| Even if you are being treated for high blood pressure | | | | your left arm.o Your blood pressure is usually higher |
| having a home monitor will help you track your | | | | when you first get up so you should wait at least 30 |
| treatment. You would have access to important | | | | minutes. If you exercise in the morning, take your |
| information between your doctor's visits. If you are | | | | blood pressure before exercising.o Do not eat, drink |
| on a program to lose weight and are currently taking | | | | caffeine, smoke or drink alcohol for 30 minutes |
| medication you will want to monitor your condition | | | | before taking a reading.o A full bladder can give you |
| often as with weight loss your dosage might need to | | | | a higher reading, so it is a good idea to go to the |
| be changed. | | | | toilet first.o Sit quietly for three to five minutes |
| If you are performing home monitoring, and you are | | | | before taking your pressure. Sit with your legs and |
| otherwise feeling well, you may be able to decrease | | | | ankles uncrossed in a comfortable position with your |
| the number of visits you make to your doctor. | | | | back supported by the back of your chair.o Your arm |
| Have you ever gone for your checkup and your | | | | should be raised to the level of your heart. You might |
| blood pressure had been on the high side? Just the | | | | have to use a pillow, table, desk or chair arm. The |
| fact that you are in the doctor's office can cause | | | | cuff should be placed on bare skin and not over |
| anxiety and affect your reading. If you have a home | | | | clothing.o While taking your pressure, do not talk. |
| monitor if the reading is different outside the doctor's | | | | Wait two or three minutes after your first reading to |
| office. This situation is called "white-coat hypertension. | | | | repeat the monitoring to check the accuracy of the |
| There are various types of home monitors. If you | | | | first one. |
| are unsure of what will work best for you, consult | | | | I hope this information will be helpful to you. I do |
| with your doctor. | | | | want to stress that home monitoring should not be a |
| There is the cuff style. The cuff consists of an inner | | | | substitute for your regular visits to your doctor. Do |
| layer of rubber that fills with air and squeezes your | | | | not change your medications or alter your diet |
| arm. There is an outer layer, usually made of nylon, | | | | without first consulting with your doctor. |
| with a fastener that holds the cuff In place. | | | | |