Blood Pressure
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What exactly is blood pressure?
The heart is a small but very powerful pump that beats steadily. The pressure created by the heart to pump the blood through the blood vessels is called blood pressure.
When the heart muscle contracts, the blood surges through the arteries - this is when the systolic (upper) blood pressure value occurs. The diastolic (lower) value is the resting pressure before the heart contracts again.
Ideally your blood pressure reading should be below 140/85mmHg.
Q: What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
The trouble with high blood pressure is that usually, there are no symptoms. The best idea is to ask your doctor for a check-up, or use a personal blood pressure monitor.
Q: What are the long term risks of high blood pressure?
Without treatment, high blood pressure can lead to numerous health problems including heart attacks, circulatory problems and kidney failure. It is also one of the most common causes of strokes.
Q: What causes high blood pressure?
Many things, often linked to modern living. Among the most common are obesity, over-indulgence in alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise and the stress of modern life, although high blood pressure can also be hereditary.
Q: What can I do to lower my blood pressure?
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit, fresh vegetables, potatoes and rice. Avoid animal fats and use less salt. Try to drink less alcohol and exercise more. If you smoke, stop. If needed, your doctor will also prescribe suitable medication.
Q: How accurate are personal blood pressure monitors?
Extremely accurate, assuming they have been correctly calibrated and clinically validated.
Most OMRON blood pressure monitors are clinically validated by independent doctors according to predetermined protocol. This means you are medically assured of the accuracy of the measurements from a blood pressure monitor with this validation.
Q: Upper arm or wrist type monitor?
Both types give accurate and reliable results. Upper arm monitors are used in a more traditional way and are ideal for home use, while wrist monitors are smaller and can be more practical to carry or for travelling.
Morning Hypertension
Morning Hypertension is defined as the weekly average for morning blood pressure reading (blood pressure measured within 1 to 2 hours after awakening in the morning) exceeding 135/85 mmHg.
There are two types of morning hypertension:
Patients either have consistently high blood pressure through the night or experience blood pressure increases while asleep.
Patients experience extreme dips in blood pressure at night and extreme surges in the morning.
In either case, it is very difficult to detect morning hypertension. By the time patients go to see a doctor, their blood pressure may have already decreased--making the condition impossible to diagnose. That is why doctors recommend monitoring blood pressure at home.
Significant Impact
There are important reasons why patients are being encouraged to differentiate between general hypertension and morning hypertension. It is common knowledge that cardiovascular events and stroke are more common in the morning, and both appear to be linked to morning hypertension. Organ damage and diabetic complications also seem to correlate with morning blood pressure surges.
Home monitoring
Doctors, physician assistants, nurses and other healthcare professionals recommend home blood pressure monitoring for various reasons, including the ability to:
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• Be constantly aware of a vital indicator about your overall health
• Provide your doctor with information to better understand and manage your high blood pressure
• See how you are responding to medication
Many types of hypertension can only be detected by monitoring your blood pressure at home, including:
• White-coat Hypertension: blood pressure reading is high in doctor's office but lower at home
• Masked Hypertension: blood pressure reading is low in doctor's office but higher at home
Additionally, many factors can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations, medications and stress, so it's important to regularly monitor your blood pressure at home.
Monitoring your blood pressure at home allows you to more easily get to a relaxed state and the flexibility to take your measurements at various times during the day. By keeping track of your home blood pressure readings, you can provide your healthcare professional with a log of blood pressure measurements over time, which can help them evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment.
How to use an OMRON...
...Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
Sit down and relax.
Do not cross your legs.
• Remove your coat or jumper if necessary to expose bare upper-arm.
• It is not necessary to remove a shirt/blouse as the monitor can detect BP through thin clothing.
Avoid rolling sleeves up as this can constrict the arm.
Place the cuff approximately 2.5 cm above the elbow crease.
• Fasten the cuff comfortably without it being too tight.
Press the (O/I) button to switch the monitor on.
• Remain still during the measurement and do not talk.
Press START.
• The cuff will inflate and then slowly deflate.
Make a note of the measurement and the pulse rate.
...Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
Sit down and relax. Do not cross your legs.
• Sit down and relax. Do not cross your legs.
Place the cuff approximately 2.5 cm above the wrist with the monitor on the inside or side of the wrist.
• Fasten the cuff comfortably without it being too tight.
Press the (O/I) button to switch the monitor on.
Place the arm across the chest, with the wrist at heart level.
• Remain still during the measurement and do not talk.
Press START.
• The cuff will inflate and then slowly deflate.
Make a note of the measurement and the pulse rate.
