Checking blood pressure regularly is a good thing. However, many unlucky people develop 'hypertension or white coat syndrome', an agitated state that causes blood pressure to rise as soon as they are approached by health workers wearing scary stethoscopes. Performing a self-examination at home can relieve this anxiety and estimate your daily average blood pressure, in real terms.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Setting Up Equipment
Step 1. Sit down and open the blood pressure checker toolbox
Sit at a table or bench, where you can easily arrange the necessary equipment. Remove the cuff, stethoscope, pressure gauge/gauge, and pump from the toolbox, taking care to remove the different pressure gauge toolboxes.
Step 2. Raise your arms to heart level
Elevate your arms so that when you bend your elbows, your elbows are at heart level. This will ensure that you get a blood pressure reading that is neither too high nor too low. Support your arm during the examination, making sure to rest your elbow on a stable surface.
Step 3. Tie the cuff around the upper arm
Most cuffs have Velcro (double-sided adhesive material/fabric) which makes them easy to lock. If your shirt has long or thick sleeves, roll it up first, as you can only tie the cuffs on very light clothing. The underside of the cuff should be about 2.5 cm above the elbow.
Some experts recommend wearing the left arm; others recommend examining both arms. However, if it's your first time doing this, check your left arm if you're right-handed, and vice versa
Step 4. Make sure the cuff is tight but not too tight
If the cuff is too loose, it will not hit the artery properly, causing inaccurate blood pressure readings. If the cuff is too tight, this will cause something called 'cuff hypertension' and give an inaccurate high result.
Step 5. Place the (more) wide head of the stethoscope on your arm
The head of the stethoscope (also known as the diaphragm) should be placed flat against the skin on the inside of your arm. The edge of the diaphragm should be under the cuff, placed over the brachial (arm) artery. Put the hearing aid to your ear.
- Don't hold the head of the stethoscope with your thumb - your thumb has its own pulse, this will confuse you when trying to get a blood pressure reading.
- A good method is to hold the head of the stethoscope with your middle and index fingers. You won't hear a (other) pulsation this way, until you inflate the cuff.
Step 6. Clamp the meter on a stable surface
If the tape measure is clipped to the cuff, remove it and place it on something strong, such as a hardback book. You can place the meter in front of you on a table this way, so it's easier to see. It is very important to hook and keep this meter steady.
- Make sure there is sufficient light so that you can see the needle and meter marker before you start the test.
- Sometimes, the meter is already attached to the rubber pump, if so then this step does not apply.
Step 7. Take the rubber pump and close the valve
The valve on the pump needs to be closed tightly before you start. This will ensure that no air escapes when you pump, resulting in an accurate check. Turn the valve clockwise, until it feels tight.
Do not lock the valve too tightly, otherwise you will open it too far and blow air too quickly
Part 2 of 3: Checking Blood Pressure
Step 1. Pump the cuff
Pump the pump quickly to fill the cuff with air. Continue pumping until the needle on the meter reaches 180 mmHg. The pressure on the cuff will close the passage of the large artery in the biceps (upper arm muscle), temporarily stopping blood flow. This is what causes the pressure from the cuff to feel strange or uncomfortable.
Step 2. Open the valve
Gently open the valve on the inflator counterclockwise, so that the air in the cuff comes out at a moderate rate. Pay attention to the meter; For best accuracy, the needle should move downward at a rate of 3 mm per second.
Opening the valve when you hold the stethoscope may be a little difficult. Try opening the valve with the cuffed hand, while holding the stethoscope with the other
Step 3. Watch the systolic blood pressure
When the pressure begins to drop, use a stethoscope to listen for a pulsating or tapping sound. When you hear the first pulse, look at the pressure on the meter. This is your systolic blood pressure.
- The systolic number shows the pressure of your blood flow within the artery walls after the heart beats or contracts. This is the higher of the two blood pressure readings, when blood pressure is written, it is at the top.
- The medical name for the pulsating sound you hear is the 'Korotkoff sound'.
Step 4. Watch your diastolic blood pressure
Keep your eyes on the meter, use the stethoscope to listen for the pulse. The loud throbbing sound will quickly turn into a buzz. Diastolic blood pressure can be easily observed, because the change in sound earlier indicates that 'soon' is your diastolic blood pressure. As soon as the buzz subsides, then you hear nothing, look at the pressure on the meter. This is your diastolic blood pressure.
The diastolic number shows the pressure of blood flow in the artery walls when the heart is relaxed after contracting. This is the lower of the two blood pressure readings, when your blood pressure is written down, it is the bottom
Step 5. Don't worry if you miss reading
If you miss a reading on either systolic or diastolic, you can inflate the cuff a little more to repeat it.
- Don't do it too much (more than twice) as it can affect accuracy.
- Alternatively, you can place the cuff on the other arm, then repeat the process again.
Step 6. Check your blood pressure again
Blood pressure fluctuates all the time (sometimes dramatically), so if you take the test twice in a ten-minute period, you can get a more accurate average.
- For more accurate results, check your blood pressure a second time, five to ten minutes after the first.
- Using the other arm for a second test is also a good idea, especially if the second result is abnormal.
Part 3 of 3: Reading Results
Step 1. Understand the meaning of the results obtained
Once you have recorded your blood pressure, it is very important to know what the numbers mean. Use the following instructions as a reference:
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Normal blood pressure:
The systolic number is less than 120 and the diastolic number is less than 80.
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Prehypertension:
The systolic number is between 120 and 139, the diastolic number is between 80 and 89.
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Grade 1: Hypertension:
The systolic number is between 140 and 159, the diastolic number is between 90 and 99.
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Grade 2: Hypertension:
A systolic number above 160 and a diastolic number above 100.
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Severe Hypertension:
A systolic number above 180 and a diastolic number above 110.
Step 2. Don't worry if your blood pressure is low
Even if your blood pressure is well below the "normal" 120/80, it's nothing to worry about. A low blood pressure test result, say, 85/55 mmHg is still considered normal, as long as no symptoms of low blood pressure appear.
However, if you experience symptoms such as dizziness, dizziness, dehydration, nausea, blurred vision, and/or fatigue, you are strongly advised to see a doctor as your low blood pressure may be the result of these conditions
Step 3. Know when to seek treatment
Understand that a high test result does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure. This could be due to various factors.
- If you check your blood pressure after exercising, eating salty foods, drinking coffee, smoking, or are under stress, your blood pressure may become unusually high. If the cuff is too loose or tight on your arm, or too big or small for your size, the examination may be inaccurate. Therefore, you don't have to worry too much about this inaccurate test, especially if your blood pressure returns to normal the next time you have it checked.
- However, if your blood pressure continues to be consistently at or higher than 140/90 mmHg, you should consult a doctor who can provide you with a treatment plan, usually a combination of a healthy diet and exercise.
- If you have a systolic reading of 180 or higher, or a diastolic reading of 110 or higher, wait a few minutes and then have your blood pressure checked again. If it's still the same, you need to contact the IGD service quick, because you may have severe hypertension.
Suggestion
- Give this diary to your doctor at your next appointment. Your doctor will be able to gather important patterns or clues for fluctuations in your blood pressure.
- Accept the fact that the first time you use your sphygmomanometer you may make a few mistakes and then fail. It takes a few tries to get used to it. Usually this equipment comes with instructions for use; make sure to read it.
- Take the test when you feel completely relaxed: that will give you an idea of the value to be had in calm. However, also force yourself to check when you are angry or displeased; You need to know your blood pressure when you are angry or frustrated.
- You may want to check your blood pressure about fifteen to thirty minutes after exercising (or meditating, or any other stress-reducing activity) to see if there is an improvement in results. There should be improvements, which will provide a nice boost to keep up your workout! (Exercise, like diet, is key to controlling your blood pressure.)
- It's also a good idea to perform the examination in different positions: standing, sitting, lying down (you may need someone's help). This is called orthostatic blood pressure and it is very helpful to determine the difference in your blood pressure based on position.
- Keep a diary of your blood pressure results. Pay attention to the time of day you have your test, whether it's before you eat, before or after exercising, or when you feel distracted.
Warning
- Your blood pressure goes up when you smoke, eat, or drink caffeinated drinks. You may be able to wait an hour after smoking, eating, drinking coffee or soda, to have the test done.
- On the other hand, you may want to check your blood pressure immediately after smoking -- the improvement in results will be another impetus to give up smoking. (The same goes for caffeine, if you find out you're addicted to coffee or caffeinated soda; and for salty foods, if snacks like chips and sweet cookies are your weakness.)
- Examination with a non-digital sphygmomanometer (not in the form of numbers) cannot be used as a reference. It is better to ask your understanding friends or family to help you.
