Did you know 1.13 billion people worldwide suffer from hypertension? Well, hypertension, or high blood pressure, is known as the “silent killer” since it causes no symptoms. But don’t get carried away with it! These no symptoms can cause more damage than any disease with symptoms! It increases the risk of heart disease without you even realizing it. Blood pressure can be controlled with a few dietary and lifestyle adjustments. If you have high blood pressure, it’s important to monitor your numbers on a regular basis which means you should get the best digital blood pressure monitor for home.
Keeping track of the reading will assist you in successfully managing the condition and understanding the steps you must take. To maintain a consistent track, many people monitor their blood pressure at home with a digital bp monitor.
But the question is are you doing it correctly? There are many mistakes that can be made without realizing it.
Here are several pointers to keep in mind when monitoring your blood pressure to reduce your risk of heart disease:
- Purchase an instrument with the proper cuff scale. Before you start using the instrument, confirm the reading with your doctor.
- Check on your blood pressure twice a day, first before taking medication in the morning and then again in the evening, preferably at the same time of day.
- Wait 30 minutes before taking a measurement before eating, drinking, or smoking.
- Before and during the monitoring, sit quietly. Before taking the reading, sit for 5 minutes in a chair.
- Don’t wear the cuff over your clothes; it should be worn on bare skin.
- Failure to take a break before checking the reading. It is possible to calm the body by sitting comfortably for five minutes.
- Rest your arm on the table or the arm of the chair at the level of your heart.
- Participating in a dialogue Small talk should be avoided. Also, active listening will add 10 mmHg to your blood pressure.
- Putting a cuff on top of your clothes. Clothing can add up to 50 mmHg to a reading, depending on the thickness of the sleeve. Since the blood pressure cuff must be worn on a bare arm, roll up the sleeve or wear short sleeves.
- Two readings should be taken at least one minute apart and the results averaged; the first reading can be misleadingly elevated. At the very least, blood pressure should be taken in both arms on the first visit, with the second arm being checked at least five minutes later.
- Meanwhile, discuss the blood pressure results with your health care provider and ask any questions you have about how the test is performed. Discuss lifestyle improvements that will help you maintain a healthy blood pressure level. If your reading is high, have it retested multiple times before making a treatment decision.
You may be recommended to take your blood pressure at home on a regular basis which is why you need to get the best bp monitor.
