Monitoring Your Blood Pressure
Author: John Sherman, MS. OTR, CST

Measuring your blood presssure on a regular schedule can be one of the most important steps you can do to safeguard your health. If this is a new idea, make it one of your resolutions for the New Year. Most of us only have their blood pressure taken at a doctor's office as part of a routine check up. Now you can do this at home, and you can keep a written record for reference. This is not a substitute for medical care and not for self-diagnosis, but it is a valiable tool for noting blood pressure changes and fluctuations.

Simply stated, blood pressure is the amount of pressure against the walls of the artery. A blood pressure measurement is the amount of that pressure. As the heart pumps blood through the body, the greatest pressure is called the Systolic Pressure and the lowest pressure is the Diastolic Pressure. Measuring you blood pressure is combining these two pressures and expressing them as a high and low number usually written with the Systolic Pressure number first, such as 120/80. Hypertension refers to high blood pressure, which means the heart needs to work harder to pump blood throuth your circulatory system. Hypotension refers to low blood pressure and can also be a dangerous condition.

Some of the conditions that can affect a blood pressure measurement are smoking, alcohol, physical activity, mental and emotional stress, and some over-the-counter medications. Refraine from using tobacco or alcohol for at least 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure. Sit in a comfortable chair with legs uncrossed and breathe comfortably for three or four minutes before taking the reading. Your arm should be resting comfortably on a table with your elbow about the same height as your heart. The blood pressure cuff is usually wrapped around the upper arm with the edge of the cuff about one inch above the elbow. Be sure the cuff is properly sized and snuggly wrapped around the arm but loose enough to slip a finger between the cuff and your arm.

There are two types of blood pressure monitors: aneroid and digital. The aneroid monitors use an arm cuff with a gauge and a stethoscope. The stethescope is placed on the center of the elbow crease and the cuff is rapidly inflated to 30 or 40 points higher than your last sistolic pressure reading. Inflating the cuff too slowly can give a false reading. The pressure is slowly released until you can hear the pulsing with the stethoscope. Note the numbers on the gauge when the beats begin and end. The beginning number on the gauge is the systolic number and the ending number is the diastolic number. This trype of monitoring requuires some desterity to inflate the cuff, position the stethoscope, slowly release the pressure, and watch and remember the gauge readings. Rechrd the numbers on a chart or book with date and time of reading. Time is important because our plood pressure fluctuates throughout the day.

The digital monitor is more user-friendly. Wrap the cuff around the arm and start the machine. The automatic monitors will inflate the cuff; the semi-automatic requires you to inflate the cuff with the rubber bulb. Look at the monitor and slowly release the cuff pressure. The monitor will have a tone or beep to prompt you when pressure measuring has finished. Note the numbers on the monitor and record them on a chart with date and time of reading.

Several tips -

A sem-automatic digital monitor will cost between . and . The automatic digital monitor will cost between . and .
The arm cuff monitors are usually more accurate than the wrist or finger monitors.
Two manufacturers, A&D and Omron, must have their monitors approved by the FDA. There are also other manufacturers that produce monitors under other brand names.
Measure your blood pressure at least weekly. Mark your calendar as a friendly reminder.
Follow the instructions on use and care of your monitor. If you have questions, ask your doctor or healthcare professional.
Do I use blood pressure measurements in my practice? Absolutely! Anytime I am concerned about a patient's medical condition, I will take their blood pressure as a precaution. If I detect a change, I will take necessary precautions and notify necessary medical personnel. This is a safe and easy procedure that only takes a few minutes, and I can assure you that it saves lives.







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John Sherman is a Licensed Occupational Therapist and Certified Shiatsu Therapist with 31 years of experience. He is author and publisher of three self-help books on health and wellness.

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