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Measuring blood pressure at home

How to get reliable results

Adults should know their blood pressure

Measuring blood pressure at home -
How to get reliable results

Blood pressure describes the pressure in the arteries during the contraction and resting phase of the heart. Blood pressure in a healthy person varies according to the situation and at different times of the day. The situation-specific pressure is affected by e.g. physical exertion, stress and certain medications. An adult should know their own blood pressure. Hypertension is the most significant risk factor for reducing healthy life years worldwide, causing 9.4 million premature deaths per year. In Switzerland, about 2 million adults have high blood pressure, and only 1/5 of the adult population has an ideal blood pressure level.

Rossmax Z5/X5 Blood Pressure Monitor

Detects arrhythmia in connection with quick and easy blood pressure measurement, and accurately distinguishes between atrial fibrillation and extra beats.

High blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older people

When is it necessary to measure blood pressure?

High blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older people: as you age, your arteries become stiffer, causing your high pressure to rise easily. Because high blood pressure doesn’t feel like anything, regular blood pressure measurements for aging over the age of 40 are part of prevention. If high blood pressure is suspected, a series of 4-7-day measurements should be performed at home. The measurement is made in the morning and evening as 2-3 parallel measurements, i.e. the measurement is repeated 1-2 minutes after the previous one. From the results of the series of measurements, the averages of the upper pressure and the lower pressure are calculated separately for the morning and evening measurements.
Chef sprinkles salt on top of the steak

Excessive use of salt raises blood pressure.

Factors causing high blood pressure

  • smoking
  • obesity, especially waist obesity
  • copious use of salt
  • little exercise
  • abundant use of licorice products
  • abundant use of NSAIDs
  • heavy alcohol consumption
  • stress
  • other disease
Thus, the most common causes of high blood pressure are lifestyles, the modification of which is an integral part of treatment. In about 5% of cases, high blood pressure is caused by another disease. Kidney and adrenal diseases are particularly relevant. Whenever high blood pressure is found, it is necessary to find out if there is another underlying disease.

Reliable home measurement

Blood pressure can be measured in many places

There are several ways to measure blood pressure. Studies show that the most accurate values are obtained from home measurements. At home, the environment is calm and the tension caused by the situation is less. Other common places to measure blood pressure are:
  • a doctor's or nurse's appointment
  • health care facilities
  • pharmacies
  • events in cardiac circles and associations
Reliable home measurement requires that the monitor, cuff and the measurement technology be in order. As the blood pressure varies from situation to situation, the length of the measurement period and the similarly repeated measurement situation ensure the reliability of the results.

A standardized measurement situation produces the most reliable results

Measure your blood pressure at home like this

At the beginning of the measurement period, check that there is no pressure difference of more than 10 mmHg between the hands. If a pressure difference occurs, take measurements from the hand with the higher pressure. Measure your blood pressure in the morning from 6 to 9 before the medication and in the evening from 18 to 21.

1

Avoid physical activity, smoking, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and energy or cola drinks half an hour before the measurement. Also avoid eating plenty.

2

Go to a peaceful, comfortable environment.

3

Measure blood pressure from the non-dominant, i.e. right-handed left hand and left-handed right hand. Place the cuff on your arm and rest your hand on a table, so that your elbow and forearm are flush with your heart.

4

Sit in your areas with your back supported for 5 minutes.

5

Start measuring and avoid talking, moving during the measurement. Do not monitor the readings.

6

Repeat the measurement after 1-2 minutes.

7

Record the results on the tracking card.

ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS

Blood pressure reference values

Blood pressure reference values are based on resting blood pressure. The ideal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, or millimetres of mercury. Only very high blood pressure above 200/130 mmHg may feel like a headache and dizziness, so blood pressure can only be measured.
Granny hugs a child on the beach.

Monitoring helps prevent the risks associated with high blood pressure.

Reference values

When treating high blood pressure, the goal is 140/90 mmHg measured at doctor’s office and 135/85 mmHg measured at home.
  • Ideal - 120/80 mmHg
  • Normal - less than 130/85 mmHg
  • Satisfactory / sufficient - 130-139 / 85-89 mmHg
  • Elevated above - 140/90 mmHg

When is self-monitoring of blood pressure necessary?

Self-monitoring of blood pressure is necessary when blood pressure is found to be mildly or moderately elevated or when measurement results vary widely. Self-monitoring is also important when medication has been started or has just been changed. Later, when the medication is established, self-monitoring is used to monitor that the blood pressure remains at the target values.

High blood pressure can be treated

What follows from high blood pressure?

High blood pressure puts strain on the arteries and the heart, which can lead to thickening and tiredness of the heart, i.e. heart failure. In addition, high blood pressure can cause arterial disease, i.e., atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attack. The likelihood of developing arterial disease depends on other risk factors for the disease that a person may have in addition to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can be treated with lifestyle changes by reducing salt intake, exercising adequately, and aiming for a normal weight. Smokers benefit from quitting smoking and those with high cholesterol levels should try to lower their cholesterol. High blood pressure is also treated with antihypertensive drugs, which are used by as many as 0.8 million Swiss.

Rossmax since 1988

What is a good blood pressure monitor like?

A high-quality upper arm gauge is recommended for home measurements. The monitor must be approved and clinically validated and it should be easily serviced, replaced and calibrated if necessary. When purchasing a monitor, make sure how the after-sales-service is organized. It is important for the reliability of the measurement that the upper arm cuff is the right size. If the cuff is too small, it gives a higher result than the actual one, and a large one in turn shows a lower pressure than the actual one. The cuff should be kept out of sunlight to keep its material good. The right size cuff is chosen according to the circumference of the upper arm.

Rossmax Z5/X5 Blood Pressure Monitor

Detects arrhythmia in connection with quick and easy blood pressure measurement, and accurately distinguishes between atrial fibrillation and extra beats.
The most advanced blood pressure monitor also recognizes arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of cerebral infarction fivefold, and its prevalence increases sharply with aging, overweight, and limited exercise in large age groups. The Rossmax Z5/X5 Blood Pressure Monitor is an example of a new generation of monitors that help detect and prevent atrial fibrillation.
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