Recently the World health Organization released its first-ever report on the global impact of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The report states that number of people suffering from hypertension doubled from 650 million to 1.3 billion; and nearly half these people did not know they had hypertension.
High blood pressure elevates the risk of heart, brain, and kidney diseases. Therefore, monitoring blood pressure on a regular basis becomes crucial than ever. It can be done either in a hospital using the sphygmomanometer or at home with digital blood pressure monitor.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood on the vessel wall while traveling through the body. This health condition is generally measured in two states:
- Systolic blood pressure: Generally measured during each heartbeat.
- Diastolic blood pressure: Measured during the heart’s resting period, between beats.
Understanding Blood Pressure Values
BP is considered normal if the readings are 120/80 mm Hg. The 120 mm Hg represents the systolic BP, and 80 mm Hg the diastolic BP. As per the American Heart Association, the different types of blood pressure are:
- Low BP: Also known as hypotension, low blood pressure is the condition where the BP falls below 90/60 mm Hg. This condition is dangerous and needs immediate medical care.
- Elevated BP: Elevated blood pressure is determined when the systolic BP is between 120 and 129 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg or lower.
- Stage 1 hypertension: In this condition, the systolic BP ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg, while the diastolic pressure is 80 to 89 mm Hg.
- Stage 2 hypertension: When systolic pressure ranges from 140 mm Hg or even higher and diastolic pressure 90 mm Hg or above, the condition is considered as stage 2 hypertension.
- Hypertensive crisis: It is a critical stage of hypertension. In this stage, systolic blood pressure crosses 180 mm Hg, and the diastolic blood pressure exceeds 120 mm Hg. Immediate medical care is necessary for affected persons because being late can cause multiple organ damage.
Types of blood pressure monitors
Two types of blood pressure machines in Spring, TX that can be used to measure BP are –
- Manual blood pressure machine
This device is also known as a manual sphygmomanometer. It is widely used in a medical setup. It comes with a cuff that is wrapped around the arm of the patient, a gauge and an inflation bulb. Manual BP machines are used by medical professionals as a stethoscope is needed to analyze the readings.
- Digital blood pressure machine
Digital BP machines can be easily used at home without help. The device is safe and easy to use. It has a cuff and a monitor to measure ambulatory blood pressure. Ambulatory monitoring measures blood pressure at regular intervals, typically every 30 minutes, and requires wearing the cuff for 24 hours.
To ensure accuracy, home blood pressure monitors should be validated annually by taking them to a medical facility to compare their readings with those recorded by professional equipment. Digital monitors can provide accurate home blood pressure readings, except for individuals with heartbeat disorders.
Why should one have a blood pressure monitor at home?
There are several benefits of having a blood pressure machine at home, including:
- Having a blood pressure machine at home helps measure blood pressure daily. It will also prevent sudden health complications such as heart failure and stroke.
- Digital BP machines can monitor ambulatory blood pressure 24 hours a day. It helps in diagnosing hypertension and reduces the risk of organ damage.
- Since digital blood pressure machines are small in size, you can easily carry them while traveling.
- Having a blood pressure machine at home can be extremely helpful for old and bedridden people and pregnant women who cannot visit the doctor regularly to measure their BP.
Conclusion
Both high and low blood pressure can be dangerous and cause serious health consequences. Blood pressure monitors in Spring, TX, such as digital sphygmomanometers, will help you measure BP regularly at home without professional help. A person with hypertension or hypotension can measure their BP using such devices at home and maintain reading. These readings help doctors to decide the dose of medications one may require to control one’s BP.
So, what are you waiting for? Purchase a machine to monitor your blood pressure accurately and conveniently from the comfort of your own home.
