Wednesday, August 15, 2007

BP Tip#2

Tip #2 - Are you measuring your blood-pressure correctly?

Did you know that 26% of all people who are told they have high blood-pressure are misdiagnosed and are either over treated or under treated?

Here are a few tips on how to measure blood-pressure correctly. It may seem a bit cumbersome at first, but keep in mind that with blood-pressure, every millimeter point counts. Use a home blood-pressure monitor (BPM) validated for accuracy, and make sure your cuff size fits properly. It may cost a little more, but it's worth every cent. For a list of home BPM that were used in seven separate RESPeRATE clinical trials Click Here.

One measurement of blood-pressure on its own can be misleading. When measuring BP at home, take three consecutive measurements -- the first measurement will be somewhat higher. Your real blood-pressure is the average or the number between the 2nd and 3rd measurement. In addition, as blood-pressure normally fluctuates, it is important that you track a week of daily measurements taken at the same time of day to see the true trend.

To watch a video from the Mayo Clinic on how to accurately measure and track your home blood-pressure Click Here.

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