Know Your Blood Pressure
By: Marybeth | December 04, 2007 | Category: Health
As part of a school science fair, I remember setting up a station in the cafeteria where teachers and parents could get a blood pressure (BP) check. Having an 11-year-old kid administer this probably seemed a little funny, but the numbers on the BP monitor were sometimes sobering. My uncle was among those who learned of his hypertension that day. He promptly followed up with his doctor and began taking medication to get it under control.
High blood pressure is often called the "silent killer" because—with no warning—it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other serious health problems. Do you know the basic facts about high blood pressure? See how you score on this quiz.
There are several risk factors for hypertension, but everyone should check their BP from time to time. You might consider getting a home monitor if you have hypertension (140/90 or higher), prehypertension (120-139/80-89), white coat hypertension, or any of the risk factors. If you do buy a home monitor, consider the following:
- Cuff size: The standard cuff usually fits an adult arm circumference of 9-13 inches. If the cuff is too large or too small, you won’t be able to get an accurate reading, so find a model that works for you.
- Digital versus manual: Digital monitors automatically inflate and display your BP and heart rate. Manual models require some know-how involving a stethoscope and dial gauge. This video shows you how to use both types.
- Accuracy check: Take your home monitor into your doctor’s office and check its accuracy against the office model.
I have some family history of hypertension, so I check my BP regularly, or often enough to know that my genes haven't caught up with me—yet.
Starting next week, the Tuesday posts will be written by Joanne, a web content manager who has worked on USA.gov since its launch in 2000. Some of my favorite nicknames for Joanne include "link girl" and "taxonomy queen." I look forward to reading her posts and would like to thank you for reading my entries over the past couple of months.
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We welcome your comments and expect that our conversation will follow the general rules of respectful civil discourse. This is a moderated blog, and we will only post comments from bloggers over 13 years of age that relate to topics on Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog. We will review comments for posting within one business day. You are fully responsible for everything that you submit in your comments, and all posted comments are in the public domain. We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right not to post comments.
Posted by funnygirl on December 04, 2007 at 07:26 AM EST #
Posted by Marybeth on December 04, 2007 at 08:36 PM EST #
Posted by about health on January 07, 2008 at 03:48 PM EST #
If you've run out of a prescription and are having symptoms, please check with a doctor (I'm not a medical professional). Based on what I've read, people often experience no signs or symptoms of having high blood pressure, so getting your blood pressure checked is critical. For more information about hypertension, check out Medline Plus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/highbloodpressure.html
Posted by Marybeth on January 08, 2008 at 08:51 AM EST #