Frequently asked questions about blood pressure
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Frequently asked questions about blood pressure:
Q: What exactly does blood pressure mean?
The heart is a small but powerful pump that constantly beats. The pressure created by the heart to pump blood through the blood vessels is called blood pressure. As the heart muscle contracts, the blood pushes through the arteries - a systolic (upper) value of blood pressure on a source of steroids appears. The diastolic (lower) value is the residual pressure before the next contraction of the heart muscle. The optimal value for your blood pressure should be 120/80 mmHg.
Q: What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
The problem with high blood pressure is that there are usually no symptoms. Therefore, it is important to ask your doctor for a blood pressure check or to use a home blood pressure monitor.
Q: What are the long-term risks of high blood pressure?
Without treatment, high blood pressure can lead to a number of health problems, including heart attack, circulatory problems and kidney problems. It is also one of the common causes of stroke.
Q: What causes high blood pressure?
A number of issues, often associated with the current way of life. The most common are obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of physical activity and stress, although high blood pressure can also be hereditary.
Q: What can I do to lower my blood pressure?
Follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, fresh vegetables, potatoes and rice. Avoid animal fats and use less salt. Drink less alcohol and exercise more. If you smoke, stop. If necessary, your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication.
Q: How accurate are blood pressure monitors?
Very accurate provided they have been properly calibrated, are clinically validated and you follow all the principles of correct measurement. Most OMRON manometers are clinically validated by independent physicians according to pre-established protocols - BHS (British Hypertensive Society, AAMI, IP (European Society of Hypertensiology)), which means that you can be sure of the medical accuracy of the manometer measurement.
Q: Wrist or arm monitor?
Both types provide accurate and reliable results. Arm sphygmomanometers are used in the traditional way and are ideal for home use, while wrist sphygmomanometers are smaller and more practical to carry, for example, when traveling. Home monitoring
Doctors, assistants, nurses and other health care professionals, for various reasons, recommend home blood pressure measurements and in particular to be able to:
- be constantly informed about vital indicators of your overall health
- provide your doctor with information to better understand and treat your high blood pressure
- see the response to the chosen treatment
- many types of hypertension can only be detected by home blood pressure measurements, such as:
"White coat" hypertension: blood pressure values are high only at the doctor's, but low at home. Hidden hypertension: Blood pressure values measured by a doctor are low, but high at home. In addition, many other factors can affect your blood pressure, such as: physical exertion, emotional fluctuations, medications, and stress, so it is important to monitor your blood pressure regularly at home. The advantage of home blood pressure monitoring is that it is easier to get relaxed and you can take measurements at different times during the day. By monitoring your blood pressure readings at home, you can provide your doctor with measurement records to help you evaluate the success of your treatment.
Dangerous early hypertension
is defined as the weekly mean value of morning blood pressure (blood pressure measured between 1 and 2 hours in the morning after awakening) exceeding 135/85 mmHg. There are two types of morning hypertension: Patients with constantly high blood pressure during the night, or blood pressure rising during sleep. Patients with an extreme drop in blood pressure at night and an extreme rise in the morning. In any case, it is very difficult to detect early hypertension. By the time patients visit a doctor, their blood pressure will drop - making it impossible to make a correct diagnosis. This is one of the reasons why doctors recommend home blood pressure measurements. There are important reasons why patients should distinguish between general and early hypertension. It is well known that cardiovascular events and strokes are more common in the morning and both are associated with early hypertension.