High Blood Pressure Tests

Before we look at how to take your own blood pressure and how to use a home blood pressure kit let us first recap the facts surrounding high blood pressure [hypertension].

Hypertension continues to be a serious worldwide problem. There are approximately 80 million people in the United States and 16 million in the United Kingdom suffering from hypertension.

Hypertension or more commonly known as high blood pressure does not manifest itself in clearly defined visible symptoms. In fact it occurs in silence, attacking at times when you least expect it to. For this very reason it is often referred to as 'The Silent Killer'.

Research has shown that about 30 per cent of people with high blood pressure are going through life totally unaware that they have this condition. There are no visible symptoms or any other type of symptom that is specific to this disease.

There are numerous common symptoms such as nosebleeds, nausea, dizziness, weakness, headaches and muscle cramps that can just as easily be attributed to other common medical problems.

The concern is that in many cases there are no symptoms exhibited at all. The truth is, for most people, if there are symptoms they do not appear until after the condition has gone beyond the mild stage and reached the life-threatening stage.

The significance of these facts draws our attention to the fact that Hypertension is essentially a lifestyle disease. High blood pressure progresses from mild to worst depending on the lifestyle of the person afflicted and is not brought about by viral or bacterial infection as is the case with other medical problems.

In view of the fact that hypertension has no symptoms medical experts are suggesting that people, especially those 35 years old and above, should have their blood pressure checked regularly.

Home Blood Pressure Kit for Personal use

Measurement of blood pressure is carried out through the use of a Sphygmomanometer. Versions have been manufactured for personal and home use and the apparatus is actually easy to use. The following procedure is a step-by-step guide describing how to check your own blood pressure.

1.  Retire to a room where it is quite and you can sit down. You will need to rest your arm on a table whilst sitting.

2.  Bend your elbow and make sure that it is parallel to your heart. Some specialists suggest using the left arm for testing while others recommend either for testing. Bend your elbow making sure it is parallel with your heart.

3.  Gently insert the stethoscope in your ears.

4.  Slip the top part of the cuff through the metal bar attached to the cuff and wrap the cuff around your upper arm. Secure it by using the Velcro.

5.  If the cuff is too tight your circulation will be restricted and may result in a false blood pressure reading. A snug fit is was is required

6.  Place the round black dial of the stethoscope on your upper arm just above the bend of the arm.

7.  Look for a little clip at the back of the Sphygmomanometer where the pressure gauge is and attach that clip to something sturdy, oftentimes a hardcover book on the table. It is important that you secure the gauge and to keep it anchored and stable.

8.  Turn the valve at the base of the rubber bulb clockwise to shut it off.

9. The needle on the gauge should be at 20 to 30 points above your usual systolic. This is achieved by pumping the bulb using slow but steady pressure.

10. Start turning the bulb’s valve gently anti-clockwise to release the air.

11. Keep an eye on the gauge and listen for a thumping sound. When you hear the first thump the reading on the gauge is the systolic number and when the thumping fades to silence the reading on the gauge is the diastolic number.

There are also modern digital machines that provide a reading electronically but you still have to apply a cuff around your arm.

 

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Research material about high blood pressure tests provided by K. Standerline, State Registered Nurse. 

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