Blood Pressure 101

Monitoring your blood pressure is a crucial step in maintaining your overall health, and it's easier than you might think. Regular monitoring can help you stay on top of your blood pressure and prevent health complications down the line. Don't dismiss an abnormal reading as a fluke and certainly don’t ignore patterns of elevated readings. Once you’ve finished reading this post you’ll be a pro when it comes to the ins and outs of blood pressure monitoring.

So what is blood pressure? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines it as, “the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries.” These pressures are denoted as the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The systolic pressure, more commonly known as the top number, is measured between when the heart contracts, and the diastolic pressure, also referenced as the bottom number, is measured between when the heart relaxes. A normal blood pressure is less than 120 over less than 80 (<120/<80). A reading greater than this is considered elevated. Readings >130/90 indicate the diagnosis of hypertension. When diagnosing hypertension, we take into account the circumstances during which the reading was obtained. Having said that, a one-time abnormal reading doesn’t mean you have hypertension. However, persistently elevated readings do support the diagnosis.

Blood pressure ranges

When are blood pressures checked? Blood pressure is typically checked during checkups starting at age 3. However, some people may not be aware of the importance of these readings until they are abnormal and require treatment. With people being diagnosed with hypertension younger and younger you may start to hear about it during the teenage years. Writing down your readings or reviewing the trend on your patient portal is a sign of good preventive practice.

Can I check my blood pressure at home? Why, yes you can. In fact, doing so is an important step in taking charge of your health.

How can I check my blood pressure at home? Let me start by saying that home blood pressure checks should be done in adults unless advised by your doctor. If it is recommended ask about the technique to monitor a child’s blood pressure at home. The first step to proper monitoring is ensuring that you have the right size cuff. An improperly sized cuff can give the false impression of a low, normal, or high blood pressure. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, measure your arm circumference at the midpoint of the upper arm. The bladder length should be 75% to 100% of the arm circumference, and the bladder width should be 37% to 50% of the arm circumference. Next, your surroundings can also impact your blood pressure. Make sure you're in a calming environment. As you may have guessed your positioning also matters. You should be settled in a seated position for at least 3 minutes. I like to practice some diaphragmatic breathing before taking a blood pressure. Applying the blood pressure cuff before starting the 3-minute countdown can help reduce agitation. Next, relax your arm, meaning no muscle contraction or engagement, at the level of your heart. Remember to log the readings in your phone or notepad so that they can be reviewed at your next visit. Bonus tip! Take your blood pressure device to your doctor’s office to compare it with theirs. Sometimes you can do this without an appointment. Just call the front desk to see if they have the capability to do so.

Blood pressure cuff size measurements

When should I check my blood pressure? There's not a specific time that's recommended, but it's a good idea to check first thing in the morning and before bedtime. It’s helpful to check after you’ve emptied your bladder and before you've had anything to eat or drink, especially caffeine. Taking 2-3 readings spaced 1-3 minutes apart can improve the accuracy in denoting where your blood pressure typically lies. Sometimes a random check midday may help to determine fluctuations in your pressure. If your blood pressure is often elevated when seen by a healthcare professional, some will call this white coat hypertension, or if it has extreme fluctuations throughout the day, you may want to inquire about a 24-hour blood pressure monitoring cuff. It is normal for there to be some variation in your blood pressure.

How often should I check my blood pressure? Checking your blood pressure daily won't hurt, but if it's pretty well controlled, checking sporadically 2-3 times a week may suffice. From there, you can determine if more frequent checks are needed.

How do I know if I need to check my blood pressure? Why wait? Again, it is a good preventive practice to know where your baseline health is. You can start checking your blood pressure at any time. It may be a good idea to get a jumpstart if you're feeling fatigued, experiencing headaches, snoring, being unable to tolerate exercise, having dizziness, or being lightheaded. Those are just a few symptoms. However, there can be many more as blood pressure affects every organ in the body. It is important to note that you may not be symptomatic until something tragic, such as a stroke, occurs. Don’t wait!

When should I be alarmed about my blood pressure? Elevated blood pressure commonly goes undetected because many are asymptomatic or have minor symptoms that are explained away. Here are some alarming symptoms that suggest the need for emergent evaluation when your blood pressure is elevated: sudden onset of an intense headache, vision changes, such as new onset blurry vision, loss of vision, blackouts in vision, vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath, worsening edema, change in speech whether slurred or the words don’t make sense, weakness, trouble walking or holding yourself up, or change in sensation, like numbness. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's best to be seen by a health professional in the emergency department ASAP.

In conclusion, monitoring your blood pressure is a simple task that can significantly impact your overall health. Stay on top of it, and don't hesitate to seek professional help if needed.

Here’s a resource from the American Heart Association.