Making Blood Pressure Health a Priority
Most people understand that having high blood pressure is an issue, but they’re not sure what that really means. High blood pressure (HBP) is also referred to as hypertension and it’s when the force of your blood going through blood vessels is too high. It can happen because of an unhealthy lifestyle or certain health conditions like diabetes. The only way to know if you have HBP is to measure it, since there are no symptoms.
What are the Dangers of HBP
HBP can be a quiet killer. Consistently high blood pressure can damage blood vessels as well as lead to health problems. The normal range is 120/80. Anything higher than 120 and higher than 80 is considered elevated while anything higher than 180/120 is considered a hypertensive crisis and you should consult a doctor immediately. If hypertension is an issue and you’re trying to keep an eye on it, a blood pressure log could be beneficial.
HBP can increase your risk for heart attack or heart disease as well as stroke, brain problems, and kidney disease. Thankfully, it’s easy to get high blood pressure under control.
How to Control HBP
There are a few different ways to manage a higher-than-normal blood pressure without resorting to medicine. The first, and most important, is to maintain a healthy weight with diet and exercise. Extra weight can put strain on blood vessels, making the blood trying to flow through them work harder than normal.
Another way to help with HBP is to limit alcohol and smoking. Both are hard on the body, raising blood pressure unnecessarily. If possible, reduce stress as well. More research is needed to the correlation between stress and blood pressure, but stress, especially long-term stress, is thought to affect blood pressure.
A major way to help with management is by monitoring it at home to keep tabs on if your changes are improving your blood pressure.
Home Monitoring
Taking readings at home can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. There are a few things to consider before and during the self-monitoring.
- Measure at least twice daily in the beginning, once in the morning and once in the evening.
- Don’t measure as soon as you wake up.
- Avoid food, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol 30 minutes before a reading.
- Sit still for 5 minutes before taking a reading. Make sure you’re in a comfortable position without crossing your legs or ankles with your back supported.
- Put the cuff on bare skin, not over clothes.
- Take multiple readings a minute apart to be sure the reading is accurate.
There are several different types of monitors to choose from. The important things to consider when looking to get one are the cuff size, the display, and the cost. Omron offers wireless wrist cuffs as well as more traditional upper arm monitors. Many of their monitors come with a digital display to show the reading easily.
Conclusion
Keeping healthy is a lifelong pursuit, something that Omron is dedicated to assisting. HBP, while symptomless, can be devastating. That’s why it’s important to monitor and combat it early. Home monitors make keeping track of levels daily quick and easy.