Hi Again! We should talk about why it is important to check your blood pressure and how to do it correctly. Maybe you want to know for yourself or your doctor has asked you to keep a record. There are so many tools out there and I know it gets confusing sometimes. Your numbers can be affected depending on when and how you take your readings. So, let’s talk about some basics.
Here is my simple explanation of what blood pressure readings mean to you. Let’s use 117/72 for example. The top number, 117, is the Systolic blood pressure. This is the pressure in your brain, arms, legs, and organs except for your heart. The bottom number, in this case the 72, is the Diastolic blood pressure which is the pressure in your heart. So you do not want the pressure too low because you don’t want your body to stop functioning and you don’t want it too high because then it can damage the walls of your blood vessels in some pretty important structures of your body.
There are blood pressure machines for your upper arm or your wrist. The wrist one is much easier to handle by yourself and most people like these the best. They are good when you have very large arms or it is just too painful to use the upper arm kind. However, the upper arm machines are typically the most accurate. If you choose to use the wrist blood pressure machine, it is better than nothing. When you do go to your doctor you should take your machine and ask to compare it with the machine or manual method (the kind where they have to pump up the cuff themselves and listen to your heartbeat) that they use in the office.
Now there is the How and When part of taking your own blood pressure. Make sure you read the instructions for the unit you will use. Each model will have specific instructions for placement of the cuff on your arm or wrist. This part is really important to get right! Then you have to follow the instructions about how to sit and position your arm. Usually your arm is at the level of your heart. You should put the cuff on and sit quietly for 5 minutes to check what is called your Resting heart rate. There are a few things to consider before you get set up to take your blood pressure. You should make sure you do not have to go to the bathroom because that can affect your numbers. You should take your blood pressure before you eat or 1 hour after you eat or that can also affect your numbers. If you want to know how your medications affect your blood pressure, check it before your medications and a few hours after you take your medications.
The actual cuff size for the upper arm makes a big difference. You need the right size cuff on the machine for your upper arm size in order to get accurate numbers. The upper arm cuffs come in small, medium, large, extra large, infant, and pediatric. If the arm cuff is too small, your numbers will read higher than they should. If the arm cuff is too large, your numbers will read lower than they should. The wrist cuffs are more forgiving, but also a little less accurate.
We need to discuss what to do if your numbers look abnormal. If you take your blood pressure and it is really high or really low you need to figure out if it is accurate. If you are NOT having any abnormal symptoms, then sit and rest for 5 minutes and do it again. Maybe you sneezed, coughed, or moved your arm the first time. Maybe you did not have the machine on right or your arm set correctly. The important thing to remember is wait 5 minutes so you are not continuously squeezing your arm and getting higher and higher numbers each time. I can hear you now: “what is an abnormal symptom?” Just a few examples are: dizziness, severe fatigue, nausea, unable to balance yourself in sitting or standing, sweating for no reason, or unable to breathe normally. These are topics you should discuss with your doctor, physical therapist, or healthcare worker so you have a plan if this happens to you.
If you keep a record of the days and times that you take your blood pressure it can sometimes help your doctor figure out patterns. So many of us have higher than normal blood pressure when we go to a doctors office. It is known as White Coat Syndrome even if they are not wearing a white coat! It happens to me and I am not nervous to talk to my doctor at all. For me, it is the stress of driving there, walking in, waiting, waiting, and waiting, just to be put in a room to wait some more. Then they take your blood pressure and guess what? It is higher than normal! Imagine that! Now, if you have your list with you, you can show the doctor your normal resting blood pressure numbers when you are quietly at home in your normal environment. You can also show them the machine you use at home, if you bring it to your appointment.
What is considered Good or Bad blood pressure is based on averages and the individual. You should talk to your doctor or healthcare worker about what numbers you should consider good and what numbers should prompt you to get help.
Being proactive about taking care of yourself is a good thing! You are the one who lives in your body every day. Choosing to take care of yourself benefits you!
The information appearing in this blog and all blogs on this website are for informational purposes and are not to be used to diagnose or treat. If you are having an emergency, you should call 911. Each individual must be assessed in person by their doctor, physical therapist, or healthcare provider prior to starting any activity or program in order to provide the necessary safety.
