A Step-By-Step Guide To Take Your Own Blood Pressure
Albertina Belmont
November 16, 2009
It is not very difficult to take your own blood pressure. In fact, the kind of equipment that we have these days has made things much simpler. Heart diseases are very common in the United States of America. It is quite unfortunate but a fact that over 4.5 million people die due to cardiovascular disease every year in America only. Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for such diseases. But, most people realize that they are suffering from hypertension only when it causes a serious health problem. That is the reason why high blood pressure is often referred to as a silent killer. The only way to diagnose such problems is to take regular BP measurements, at least on a weekly or monthly basis. However, you don´t necessarily have to visit a doctor´s clinic in order to get your BP checked up. You can do it yourself, right at your home. Here´s how.
Wrap The Bp Cuff Around Your Arm
In order to take your own blood pressure, you will need an Aneroid Sphygmomanometer (BP cuff) and a stethoscope. The first step is to wrap the BP cuff around your arm, a little above the elbow joint.
Wear The Stethoscope
Get the stethoscope and place it in your ears. In order to ensure that you hear the sounds clearly, you must wear the stethoscope in a way that the earpieces should make an upside down V facing you.
Relax Your Arms
Your arm must be in a relaxed position. Otherwise, you will not be able to take accurate results. Now, put the stethoscope bell at the point where the arm bends (the middle of your arm).
Start Pumping Up The BP Cuff
Now, you can start pumping up the BP cuff in order to take your own blood pressure. Keep pumping till it reaches 180. However, before you start pumping, make sure that the valve is tightly closed on the cuff.
Listen For The Thumps
Stop pumping and watch the needle on the gauge. The systolic pressure or the top number is the point of the needle where you hear the first big thump through the earpieces of the stethoscope. Likewise, the diastolic pressure or the bottom number is the point of the needle where you listen to the last little thump. The sound of thumping will keep reducing until it is almost silent – that´s the last little thump.
You can now release the pressure on the cuff. Note it down on a piece of paper so that you could discuss the same with your doctor. Thus, you can see that you can easily take your own blood pressure if you follow the above simple steps thoroughly.
About Author
Monitoring Blood pressure on a regular basis counts as one of the essentials of a healthy lifestyle. It becomes important to know the symptoms that indicate irregularities in blood pressure. Consequently arises the need to incorporate positive lifestyle changes as a means to Controlling blood pressure.
Wrap The Bp Cuff Around Your Arm
In order to take your own blood pressure, you will need an Aneroid Sphygmomanometer (BP cuff) and a stethoscope. The first step is to wrap the BP cuff around your arm, a little above the elbow joint.
Wear The Stethoscope
Get the stethoscope and place it in your ears. In order to ensure that you hear the sounds clearly, you must wear the stethoscope in a way that the earpieces should make an upside down V facing you.
Relax Your Arms
Your arm must be in a relaxed position. Otherwise, you will not be able to take accurate results. Now, put the stethoscope bell at the point where the arm bends (the middle of your arm).
Start Pumping Up The BP Cuff
Now, you can start pumping up the BP cuff in order to take your own blood pressure. Keep pumping till it reaches 180. However, before you start pumping, make sure that the valve is tightly closed on the cuff.
Listen For The Thumps
Stop pumping and watch the needle on the gauge. The systolic pressure or the top number is the point of the needle where you hear the first big thump through the earpieces of the stethoscope. Likewise, the diastolic pressure or the bottom number is the point of the needle where you listen to the last little thump. The sound of thumping will keep reducing until it is almost silent – that´s the last little thump.
You can now release the pressure on the cuff. Note it down on a piece of paper so that you could discuss the same with your doctor. Thus, you can see that you can easily take your own blood pressure if you follow the above simple steps thoroughly.
About Author
Monitoring Blood pressure on a regular basis counts as one of the essentials of a healthy lifestyle. It becomes important to know the symptoms that indicate irregularities in blood pressure. Consequently arises the need to incorporate positive lifestyle changes as a means to Controlling blood pressure.
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