02 Sep How Do I Properly Measure My Blood Pressure?
This might seem like a funny question but “When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked?”
Did I just hear you asking, “what is Blood Pressure?”
Alright, allow us to explain.
Blood pressure (BP) is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood pushing against blood vessels walls. Now, high blood pressure (or hypertension) as the name implies, is when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high.
Nearly half of all adults have high blood pressure, but about a third of these people aren’t even aware they have the problem. And that’s the key point. Hypertension doesn’t show symptoms and if it ever does, it’s probably already too late. It is called “the silent killer” for a reason.
Without blood pressure checkups we are at risk of diseases such as stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. Hence, checkups are crucial to help know your blood pressure and act when necessary. But first…
How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
Discovering you have blood pressure is only possible through consistent checkups. You can do this by seeing your healthcare provider (hospital) or by simply checking it by yourself at the comfort of your home using a BP machine called a sphygmomanometer.
So, how do I properly check my blood pressure? To accurately measure your blood pressure, these should be strictly adhered to:
- Avoid tobacco products, foods, drinks, exercise, and caffeine 30 minutes before blood pressure measurement.
- Don’t hold urine. Use the bathroom so there’s no pee in your bladder.
- Remain calm and quiet during your blood pressure measurement. Do not talk or watch a video on your phone.
- Make sure you rest for five minutes or more in a chair (not a couch) before measuring your blood pressure.
- Make sure you’re sitting up straight with your legs uncrossed and your feet on the floor.
- Use a proper BP cuff. Most people can use an adult cuff.
- Wrap the blood pressure measurement cuff around your upper arm (right above your elbow). You can use your left or right arm. Make sure your sleeve isn’t between the cuff and your arm. The cuff should touch your skin. Short sleeves are best, so you don’t have to roll up your sleeve.
- Put on your automatic blood pressure measurement device to put air into the cuff to make it tighter.
- Wait while the cuff automatically releases air and takes measurements.
Note: you should take another reading after waiting a minute between them.
After checking, what next?
Read your BP. For better understanding, the top or first number known as systolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries during a heartbeat while the bottom or second number (also called the diastolic pressure) is the pressure in your arteries when your heart’s resting to prepare for the next beat.
Blood pressure readings can be low, normal, or high.
A normal BP reading ranges from 120/80mmHG or lower.
An elevated BP reading is between 120 to 129/80mmHG or lower.
Stage 1 high blood pressure ranges from 130 to 139mmHG (systolic) or 80 to 89 mmHG (diastolic).
Stage 2 high blood pressure ranges from 140/90 mmHG or higher for either number.
If your blood pressure is too low, it’s also important to seek medical attention. If you’re having symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting, you should see your doctor as soon as you can.
It is very important to keep track of your BP measurement on a regular basis. Remember, hypertension is a silent killer that comes without warning. If you wait till you see a sign before acting, it would probably be too late.
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