Simple Medical Check Up Your Family

There are several reasons why you and your family may want to monitor your own blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend you keep a record of your reading between doctor visits if you have high blood pressure, you are on blood pressure medication, or your numbers are hard to control. Blood pressure is measured with two numbers such as 120 over 80. If your reading is between 120 and 139 over 80 and 89 you are Pre-hypertension. Now if your reading is 160 over 100 or higher your are considered Stage 2 Hypertension. When you take your blood pressure, you are going to want to record the numbers, the date, the time of each reading, and you may even make a notation if you were relaxed or nervous at the time. This information will be helpful and will give your doctor a good idea of your blood pressure changes, which he will be able to better treat your individual condition. Taking your blood pressure monitors is easy and the steps are similar whether you have a manual inflating or self inflation monitor. If you have consumed any caffeinated beverage you should wait 30 to 45 minutes before taking a reading. For consistency, try to take your blood pressure using the same arm and taking it around the same time each day. Before placing the blood pressure cuffs on your arm make sure you are not wearing a sweater for that will affect your reading. In most cases you will slide your arm through the cuff loop. With your palm facing up place your arm on a flat table, the censer of the cuff should be in the center of your arm over the brachial artery. Your blood pressure and pulse measurement will be displayed on the digital panel.