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WELLNESS
HERE’S
a healthy do-it-yourself
project: Buy a blood pressure
monitor, and keep track of your
measurements at home.
There are good reasons for
owning your own monitor,
according to the American Heart
Association (AHA). The first is
accuracy: Regular readings will
give you a much better idea of your
numbers than checkups at your
B L O O D P R E S S U R E
The benefits
of home
monitoring
doctor’s office, simply because you
can take your blood pressure more
often.
Measuring your blood pressure
in the comfort of your own home
also removes the likelihood of
anxiety-induced spikes—called
white-coat hypertension—that can
sometimes occur in a doctor’s office.
Home monitoring is a
particularly good idea if you’ve
recently been diagnosed with high
blood pressure. It can help you and
your doctor assess how treatment
is—or is not—working.
Others who may benefit from
home monitoring include pregnant
women, seniors, and people with
diabetes or other chronic health
issues.
The AHA recommends home
blood pressure devices with arm cuffs.
(Be sure the cuff will fit around your
upper arm.) But it’s always a good idea
to ask your doctor for advice before
buying a device—some models
may not be suitable for children or
pregnant women, for example.
After your purchase, take the
monitor to your doctor’s office to
check its accuracy and to learn how
to use it correctly.
USUALLY
when you’re sick,
your body sends you signals—you’re
weak, nauseated or in pain. Somehow
you just know something’s not right.
But there’s at least one poten-
tially serious condition that usually
has no symptoms at all: high blood
pressure. Also called hypertension,
high blood pressure increases your
risk for heart disease, heart failure,
stroke, kidney disease and blindness.
Spotting a problem
The best way to know if your
blood pressure is high is to have it
tested by a medical professional.
The American Academy of Fam-
ily Physicians recommends a blood
pressure check at least once every
two years. Your doctor may suggest
more frequent checks if you’ve had
high blood pressure in the past or if
the condition runs in your family.
What the numbers mean
When you get your blood pressure
checked, you’ll be presented with two
numbers. The systolic pressure,
High blood pressure: Be on the alert
measured when the heart beats,
is listed first. The second number
is the diastolic pressure, mea-
sured when the heart rests. Blood
pressure is measured in millime-
ters of mercury, or mm Hg.
The American Heart Associa-
tion places blood pressure levels
in these categories:
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Normal: Less than 120 mm Hg
systolic and less than 80 mmHg
diastolic.
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Prehypertension: 120 to 139
systolic or 80 to 89
diastolic.
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High, stage 1:
140 to 159 sys-
tolic or 90 to 99
diastolic.
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High, stage 2: 160 or higher systolic
or 100 or higher diastolic.
If you have high blood pressure,
you may be able to get it under
control by making changes in your
lifestyle, such as:
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Not smoking.
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Losing weight if you’re overweight.
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Exercising regularly.
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Eating a healthy, low-fat diet that
includes lots of fruits and vegetables.
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Limiting your intake of sodium
and caffeine.
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Avoiding alcohol.
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Learning to relax.
If lifestyle adjustments alone don’t
bring down your blood pressure,
medication may be needed.
If you don’t have a primary
care provider, go to
www
.columbiamemorial.org
and
click on “Find a Physician.”
www . columbiamemorial . org
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