Share This Article
Every May 17th is celebrated as World Hypertension Day. This warning aims to make people more aware of the dangers of hypertension. One thing that can be done is early detection by regularly checking blood pressure. So, how do you check your blood pressure independently at home? Come on, check out the complete review below!
Understanding blood pressure
Pressure is a quantity that measures the strength of blood that continues to circulate throughout the body through vessels called arteries. The magnitude of this strength will later be used to find out whether it falls into the normal category or not.
There are two aspects measured in checking blood pressure, namely:
- Systolic pressure: The pressure when the heart pumps blood throughout the body
- Diastolic pressure: The pressure when the heart ‘rests’ between beats.
Blood pressure category
In measuring blood pressure, there are three categories that have been used as a reference, namely low blood pressure, normal blood pressure and high blood pressure.
Quoted from the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure is less than 120 (systolic) per 80 (diastolic), or usually written as 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure is said to be low or high if it is below or above this range.
The importance of checking blood pressure regularly
It is necessary to check your blood pressure regularly to determine your health condition. Not without reason, if blood pressure is quite low or even high over a long period of time, this condition has the potential to increase a number of health problems.
When compared to low blood pressure, high blood pressure is a condition that is currently receiving the most attention. Because, this situation can increase the risk of developing hypertension, which can then end in complications in the form of heart disease or stroke.
Unfortunately, in the early stages, hypertension often goes undetected because no symptoms appear. Without proper checking and treatment, complications can occur, leading to the most feared fatal impact, namely death. That is the reason why hypertension is called the silent killer
How to check your blood pressure independently at home
As technology advances, blood pressure checks no longer have to be done at health service centers or pharmacies. There are already digital blood pressure measuring devices that you can use independently at home. The way to do this is also quite easy, namely:
- Position your arm at heart level and place it on a table or other object that can be used as support.
- Wrap and wrap the cuff around the upper arm, touching the skin as much as possible, meaning there is no clothing obstruction.
- Leave a small space the size of a fingertip at the bottom of the cuff.
- Check cuff placement, the bottom edge should be one inch above the elbow crease.
- Press the on button on the digital blood pressure measuring device.
- After that, the cuff will inflate itself, then slowly release air.
- Look at the screen to get your blood pressure number. The upper part is systolic pressure, while the lower part is diastolic.
- If you need to repeat the check, wait two to three minutes.
Things to pay attention to
Checking blood pressure can be done independently. However, there are still several things you need to pay attention to before doing so, namely:
- If you have recently consumed caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco products, wait 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure
- Urinate to empty the bladder
- Rest for three to five minutes without talking
- Sit in a comfortable position with your legs and wrists uncrossed and your back supported.
Be aware of high blood pressure
If you check your blood pressure for several days and the results are always above 120/80 mm Hg, then you should be aware of hypertension.
- Hypertension stage 1: Blood pressure 130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic
- Hypertension stage 2: Blood pressure consistently 140/90 or higher
- Then Hypertensive crisis: Blood pressure above 180/120. If this happens, wait five minutes and take the measurement again. If the results are the same, contact a doctor immediately because this condition requires medical assistance.
If not treated quickly and appropriately, hypertension can increase the risk of various other diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders (including heart failure and heart attacks), kidney problems, metabolic syndrome (diabetes), and brain damage.
Well, that’s a review of the importance of checking blood pressure as a first step in detecting the possibility of hypertension. To prevent this condition, adopt a healthy lifestyle such as maintaining a nutritious diet and exercising regularly, OK!
Consult about your and your family’s health problems through Good Doctor, a 24/7 service. Our doctor partners are ready to provide solutions. Come on, download the Good Doctor application here!
Do you already have health insurance from the company where you work? Come on, take advantage of the service by connecting your insurance benefits to the Good Doctor application! Click link this, OK.
