High blood pressure: How to take reading at home even if you don’t have a monitor – tips
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With changing lifestyles and taxing work schedules, it is important to monitor health parameters on a regular basis. Having medical equipment at home goes a long way in achieving that but what if you don’t own a monitor?
According to Blood Pressure UK, important factors to remember include:
- Measure your blood pressure in both arms when you first start
- Always use the same arm
- Take readings at the same time each day
- Don’t round your measurements up or down
- Don’t worry if you get an unexpected high reading
- Don’t worry about small changes
- Don’t check your blood pressure too often
- Don’t stop taking your medications if your blood pressure falls
- Speak to your doctor or nurse if you’re worried.
Measuring without a monitor
According to Blood Pressure Nutrition, you could get an approximate systolic blood pressure reading without a blood pressure cuff.
To do this one would need to find their pulse along their left arm. You’re looking for a radial pulse, which is below the thumb and above the wrist.
If you can feel the pulse without difficulty, your systolic blood pressure is at least 80mmHg.
In general, a normal blood pressure is considered anything less than 120/80.
Blood pressure is a very individualised vital sign reading, which means it can be very difficult for each person.
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When taking your reading at home, a few other important tips to remember include:
Avoid things that can raise your blood pressure in the short term
Wear loose-fitting clothes
Rest for five minutes before you take your reading
Make sure your arm is supported and at the same level as your heart
Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable.
Blood pressure readings largely depend on a person’s gender, age, weight, and any medical conditions.
There are also many useful apps available that can track your blood pressure results.
This can be helpful in identifying patterns in blood pressure.
These apps can help one to track their blood pressure readings quickly and easily.
Measuring blood pressure regularly on the same area can help most accurately to track readings and ensure they are at healthy levels.
In recent news, the NHS have announced their new incentive to offer DIY blood pressure monitors in a bid to help reduce rising hypertension-associated casualties.
The monitors will be handed out by the NHS to slash the death toll from heart attacks and strokes by ensuring people are aware of their numbers.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “We know technology can transform the care the NHS provides to patients, and these innovative blood pressure devices will give people the tools they need to monitor their own health at home.
“This is just one way we’re backing the health service to harness the potential of new technology, to support hardworking staff and save thousands of lives.”
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