Do you know the correct way to measure blood pressure?

Nowadays, many people in Sri Lanka have a small machine in their homes that can measure blood pressure. Whether you go to a doctor or a pharmacy, you can now check your blood pressure very easily. But did you know that the small mistakes we make when measuring blood pressure can completely change the reading? To be precise, there is a method to measure this correctly. Today, we will talk about how to measure your blood pressure without any fuss, what the values ​​​​that are obtained mean, and what areas need to be taken care of.

Simply put, what is this blood pressure measurement?

Blood pressure measurement is a very simple, painless test that takes less than a minute. It checks whether your blood pressure is normal, high, or low. You can do this at home, or you can have it measured by a doctor.

Think of a water pipe. When you turn on the motor, the water exerts a certain pressure on the walls of that pipe, right? In the same way, the pressure exerted on the walls of the blood vessels (arteries) when our heart pumps is what we call blood pressure . These vessels carry oxygen and nutrients to every organ and tissue in our body.

This test is important because it is the only way to detect a condition called high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often called a "silent killer." That is, it can be present in the body for years without any symptoms. But during this time, it silently damages our heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. Therefore, it is very important to measure blood pressure regularly, even if there are no symptoms.

What is the best time to measure blood pressure?

You can measure your blood pressure every day. But the most important thing is to do it at the same time every day . For example, you can measure it at the same time every morning and/or at the same time every evening.

Measuring blood pressure is very important in situations like these:

• If you have just started taking blood pressure medication: About two weeks after starting the medication, you can tell for yourself whether the medication is working or not by measuring your blood pressure for a few days in a row.
• Before you go to the doctor: It is very important to measure your blood pressure at home about a week before your clinic date and write down the readings. This is because some people can feel a little nervous and scared when they go to the doctor, due to the environment of the clinic. We also call this "White Coat Syndrome" . This is why the blood pressure measured at the clinic may seem slightly higher. Also, some people have high blood pressure at home and normal blood pressure at the clinic. Therefore, having both readings taken at home and at the clinic will help the doctor get the best understanding of your condition.

A doctor may measure your blood pressure for these reasons:

• Monitor your condition while you are receiving treatment in the hospital.
• Check if you have high blood pressure or low blood pressure.
• See how effective the medication you were prescribed is.
• Assess your risk of developing heart disease or vascular disease.
• Decide how risky medical procedures, like certain surgeries, are for you.
• See if you are suitable for certain jobs or sports.

To get the most accurate reading, prepare like this!

To get an accurate reading, you need to do a little preparation before measuring your blood pressure. If you follow these steps, you will get the most accurate reading possible.

• Stop doing these things 30 minutes before: Avoid tobacco products (such as cigarettes), food, drinks (especially those containing caffeine like coffee), and exercise for at least 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure.
• Go to the bathroom: Your blood pressure reading may be slightly higher even when your bladder is full. So go to the bathroom before taking the measurement.
• Rest for 5 minutes: Don't take your blood pressure reading right after walking around or doing something. Sit in a chair where you can sit upright, not in a reclining position like a sofa, and relax for at least 5 minutes .
• Correct sitting posture: Sit in a chair with your back straight , your legs uncrossed, and your feet flat on the floor .
• How to place your hand: Place the arm you want to measure your blood pressure on a table. The most important thing is that your arm is at heart level . Don't put any weight on your arm, just relax completely.
• Choose the right cuff: If you put a cuff that is too small for your arm, the pressure reading will be falsely high. Also, if you put a cuff that is too large, the reading will be falsely low. For most people, a large adult cuff will be fine.
• How to wrap the cuff around your arm: The cuff should be wrapped around your upper arm, just above the elbow . You can use either your left or right hand. But don't wrap the cuff over your arm while wearing your clothes. The cuff should be wrapped flush with your skin . This makes it easier to wear a short-sleeved shirt.

Okay, now let's see how to accurately measure blood pressure.

How to measure with an automatic machine

We often use this type of machine at home. It's very easy.

1. As mentioned earlier, sit properly, hold your arm, and apply the cuff correctly.

2. Press the button on the machine to turn it on. The cuff will then fill with air and begin to tighten.

3. Then, the air in the cuff gradually decreases and the pressure is measured.

4. In about a minute, the machine's screen will show your two pressure values.

The best thing to do is to take a measurement once, wait a minute, and then take another measurement . That way you can get a more accurate idea.

The method used by doctors (Manual Method)

You may have seen your doctor measure your blood pressure using a stethoscope and a hand-inflated pressure cuff. Here's what happens:

1. They pump air into the cuff and tighten your arm.

2. Then the stethoscope is placed over a vein in your elbow (brachial artery) and the cuff is inflated very quickly.

3. When you do this, you record a single value along with the first sound you hear when blood starts to flow through the vein.

4. As you continue to blow, note the other value at the point where the sound disappears.

Since this method requires a little experience, we recommend using an automatic machine at home.

What do your blood pressure readings mean? Let's understand!

After measuring your blood pressure, you get two numbers. For example, 120/80 mmHg. Let's see what these two numbers mean.

• Systolic pressure: This is the top number. It is the maximum pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, which is when it contracts to pump blood.
• Diastolic pressure: This is the bottom number. It is the lowest pressure in the arteries between heartbeats, when the heart relaxes to fill with blood again.

These values ​​are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

If the pressure seems a little high, don't worry!

Don't panic if you see a slightly higher reading one day when you measure your blood pressure at home. A single high reading doesn't mean you have high blood pressure.

A doctor will only conclude that you have high blood pressure if several readings taken on different occasions over several days are consistently high.

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you. He or she will also advise you to make some lifestyle changes, such as these, in addition to or before taking your medication:

• Maintaining a healthy weight: Try to maintain a healthy weight for your height.
• Exercise: At least 150 minutes a week (30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) of exercise, such as walking or cycling.
• Salt control: Reduce the amount of salt you add to your food. It is best to consume less than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day.
• Healthy diet: Include more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet, and reduce foods high in oil and fat (especially saturated fat).
• Avoid smoking: If you smoke, it is essential to quit completely.
• Limit alcohol: If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

In this case, see a doctor immediately!

If you measure your blood pressure at home and the reading is very high, don't panic, wait about 5 minutes and measure again. If the readings continue to be high, talk to your doctor. Especially if your readings are at the "Hypertensive Crisis" level (above 180/120 mmHg), seek medical advice immediately.

Just like high blood pressure, low blood pressure can also be a problem . If you have these symptoms, be aware of them too.

• Hard work
• Dizziness
• Dizziness
• Fainting

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about them as well.

Measuring your blood pressure is a valuable tool for understanding your own health. Learning how to measure your blood pressure correctly at home gives you the freedom to do it anytime, anywhere, and with ease. If your values ​​are in the right range, it can give you peace of mind. It can also help you identify and treat high blood pressure without any symptoms.

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