Want to Live Healthy? Use OneHealth Aneroid Tensimeter for Best Results!

Did you know? Hypertension can weaken blood vessels, trigger the formation of clots and plaques that can cause strokes, and even damage vital organs. If you are at risk of hypertension, the best step you can take is to regularly monitor your blood pressure to maintain optimal health.

Understanding the importance of monitoring blood pressure at home is a crucial first step. In addition to check ups at health facilities such as hospitals or clinics, doctors often recommend that people with hypertension do self-checks at home. Interestingly, home blood pressure monitoring offers several advantages over check ups at health care facilities.

• Minimize blood pressure measurement errors. When you are in the doctor's office, you may feel a little nervous or anxious. Although this is normal, anxiety can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, causing abnormal blood pressure readings (this is commonly known as the "white coat effect"). By measuring your blood pressure at home, you can make sure that you are relaxed and comfortable before taking the measurement.
• Early warning and more complete blood pressure measurement information. Doing blood tests at home allows you to monitor your blood pressure more regularly and frequently, so you will get complete and comprehensive information. In addition, you can also find out if your blood pressure rises suddenly.

Blood Pressure Measurement Process : A Simple Explanation

Blood pressure measurements are performed with a sphygmomanometer to monitor two main components: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. The process, regardless of the type of sphygmomanometer used, is generally similar. A cuff is placed on the arm and pumped until blood flow stops temporarily. Then, the sound of the pulse is monitored using a stethoscope or electronic listening device.

The pressure in the cuff is slowly increased until the pulse cannot be heard. When the pressure is slowly released and the pulse begins to be heard again, the number read is called the systolic pressure.

Next, the cuff pressure is continuously lowered until the pulse becomes weaker and eventually disappears completely. The number read at this point is called the diastolic pressure.

Choose the right blood pressure monitor to measure your blood pressure: there are two main types, manual (mercury and aneroid) and automatic (digital). While mercury blood pressure monitors were once the medical standard, their use has become controversial due to their risks. As an alternative, the safer aneroid blood pressure monitor is now the recommended choice.

An aneroid sphygmomanometer is a manual blood pressure measuring device similar to a mercury sphygmomanometer, consisting of a pressure measuring meter, a pump balloon, and a hose connected to a cuff. The difference lies in the measuring meter: a mercury sphygmomanometer uses mercury liquid, while an aneroid sphygmomanometer uses a gauge to display blood pressure results. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of an aneroid sphygmomanometer.

How to use an aneroid sphygmomanometer : Place the cuff above the elbow directly on the skin, parallel to the heart, then pump air until the pressure is high enough. Slowly release the air while listening to the pulse with a stethoscope to determine systolic and diastolic pressure. Record the results, remove the cuff, and evaluate your blood pressure to ensure the results are within the normal range.

Systolic pressure is measured when the first heartbeat sound is heard due to blood flow through the arteries, while diastolic pressure is measured when the sound disappears. If the measurement results are considered inaccurate, take a second measurement with a 5 minute gap. Several important factors to ensure accurate results include body posture, arm position parallel to the heart, and cuff size that fits the patient's arm. After understanding how a sphygmomanometer works, it is also important to know the classification of normal blood pressure in adults aged 18 years and over.

The numbers on a blood pressure measurement, such as 120/80 or 130/90, indicate systolic (120/130) and diastolic (80/90) pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, while diastolic pressure is the pressure when the heart is at rest. Maintaining normal blood pressure is very important, and a healthy lifestyle plays a big role in preventing hypertension or controlling high blood pressure. Hypertensive patients must make lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of complications, even for those with prehypertension blood pressure. Make sure you always monitor your blood pressure with an aneroid sphygmomanometer from OneHealth, available at The Kingdom Shop, to help keep your blood pressure under control.