Blood Pressure Monitoring Tips
When your heart beats, it pumps blood round your body to give it the energy and oxygen it needs. As the blood moves, it pushes against the sides of the blood vessels. The strength of this pushing is your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your arteries (and your heart) and this may lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Monitoring your blood pressure between medical appointments can be a useful tool in managing your blood pressure. Be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding monitoring your blood pressure, and speak with your doctor if you have any concerns about your readings. Blood pressure measurements taken at home should not be used as a replacement for your doctor's regular assessment.
To take your blood pressure:
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Blood Pressure is recorded as numbers called your systolic number (upper number) and your diastolic number (lower number).
Your diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure of blood in the blood vessels when the heart is relaxed between beats. It is the “bottom number” in a blood pressure reading. For example, if your blood pressure is 140 over 90 or 140/90, the diastolic measurement is 90. Your systolic blood pressure measures the pressure of blood in the blood vessels when the heart beats or squeezes blood into the vessels. It is the “top number” in a blood pressure reading. For example, if your blood pressure is 140 over 90 or 140/90, the systolic measurement is 140. |
For more information on how to manage your high blood pressure, visit Million Hearts online and download Team Up. Pressure Down; A Journal To Help You Manage High Blood Pressure.
Department of Health
The Allegany County Department of Health is available at the following Allegany County Office for the Aging Senior Luncheon sites for Free Blood Pressure Clinics:
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Home Monitoring
The American Heart Association states that home monitoring may be especially useful for:
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Public Blood Pressure Machines
Public blood pressure machines, such as those found in pharmacies, may provide helpful information about your blood pressure.
Remember, the accuracy of public blood pressure machines depends on several factors; such as a correct cuff size and proper use of the machines. Public Blood Pressure Machines can be found at the following locations:
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