Why You Should Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly

Best position to take blood pressure

For better health, most people should take their blood pressure at home.

Blood pressure monitoring at home can be more accurate than going to the nearby hospital.

Under blood pressure monitors that have been confirmed are accurate, simple to use, and don't have to be expensive.

Monitoring your blood pressure on a regular basis provides a vital window into your health and allows you to keep your heart and brain in good shape.

However, according to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, older persons who would benefit most from this habit do not keep track of their statistics at home. The findings, which were based on a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 50 to 80, were released this month.

A stroke, heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic renal disease, or hypertensions have affected almost 60% of people in this age range.

This puts them at risk of a health emergency if they don't control their blood pressure, but only half of them, 48%, regular basis measure it at home, a simple habit that can help to keep levels in a healthy range, according to Dr. Deborah Levine, an associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical School.

"It's impossible to predict what will motivate a particular patient."

Doctors played a "enormous role" in encouraging individuals to monitor their blood pressure at home, according to Levine, and patients who were told to do so were more likely to do so. The poll respondents mentioned a doctor's encouragement as the No. 2 reason for making it a habit, second only to wanting to be "as healthy as possible."

However, more than a third indicated their doctors never advised it.

A Silent killer

Another major motivator, according to Levine, is focusing on brain health.

"People are terrified about dementia or stroke," she said. "There is mounting evidence that high blood pressure is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia later in life." Some adults aren't aware of this."

Furthermore, a recent study demonstrated that maintaining ideal blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg kept a person's brain six months healthier than his or her actual age.

Blood pressure is measured in a range. When to see a doctor and how to read it

Blood pressure that is less than 120/80 is considered normal. The numbers typically climb as persons become older, with women seeing a faster and steeper rise than men.

According the American Heart Association, almost 100 million persons in the United States have high blood pressure, which is known as the "silent killer" since it often has no symptoms. Only about half of them have something under control.

According to a new study, uncontrolled high blood pressure in the United States is growing worse.

Last year, the American Heart Association and the American Medical Association urged "wide - spread" home monitoring as a more convenient and superior way to know those numbers as it can prevent "white coat hypertension," a condition in which a person's blood pressure rises as soon as he or she tries to enter a doctor's office.

Over-the-counter blood pressure monitors that have been validated are accurate, simple to use, and don't have to be expensive.

Individuals with chronic health concerns such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure should check their numbers at home regularly between doctor's appointments, according to Levine.

Young, healthy people can also benefit. She recommended that people begin monitoring their blood pressure at home at the age of 35.

How to check blood pressure at home naturally

And get a sense of how your blood pressure is "during ordinary living outside of the doctor's office," Levine suggested the following advice:

Try doing it once a month in the first week. Check twice per day, between 6 and 10 a.m. in the morning and 6 to 10 p.m. in the evening — that is, four hours after waking up and four hours before bed for most people.

Prepare your body. Going to the bathroom first can help you get a better reading. Before taking a reading, sit still for five minutes. In the 30 minutes prior, don't eat, exercise, smoke, or consume alcohol. Your back should be held by a chair, your feet should be flat on the ground, & your arm should be at heart level.

Take at least two minutes apart readings. After that, add them up. This is due to the fact that the initial value is frequently greater than expected.

Keep a diary then discuss whether or how often you should share it with your doctor.

Think about making lifestyle changes instead of using medication to reduce blood pressure.

These include limiting sodium intake, exercising for 30 to 60 minutes five days a week, & keeping a healthy weight.