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Pregnancy and High Blood Pressure

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During pregnancy, every mother wishes and hopes to have a smooth journey and give birth to a bouncing and healthy baby. This is why paying attention to one’s health during this period is essential. Pregnancy comes with a lot of complications that may prove to be detrimental if not addressed accordingly. One of the most common occurrences during pregnancy is high blood pressure. This happens due to different things and may affect anyone whether you’ve had a history of it before or not. To ensure that you keep up with your blood pressure, taking consistent readings is essential. Going to a hospital that is well equipped with hospital use blood pressure monitors is a great first step.

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Types of Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Pregnant lady getting her blood pressure checked.
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

When it comes to high blood pressure in pregnancy, you’ll find they come in different types mainly because they develop in different stages during pregnancy. These types include:

Preeclampsia

This condition comes when the pregnancy is a bit more advanced at 20 weeks old. When hypertension hits at this stage, you are likely to get preeclampsia which may also lead to some organ damage. If left untreated, this condition may prove to be fatal for both mother and child.

Chronic Hypertension

Chronic hypertension is said to have existed before pregnancy or before it got to 20 weeks old. Given the fact that hypertension at this early stage may not have symptoms, pinpointing when it began during the pregnancy will prove to be difficult.

Gestational Hypertension

When it comes to gestational hypertension, it occurs in the second trimester of the pregnancy and is not as fatal as preeclampsia. It is said to go away after giving birth to your child. With this, you need to ensure that you monitor the condition closely. This is mainly because the potential of it developing into preeclampsia is very high. Treat the condition early to avoid making the condition any worse.

Chronic Hypertension with Superimposed Preeclampsia

This condition is present in women who suffered from chronic hypertension before pregnancy. During pregnancy, if there is a presence of protein in your urine and high blood pressure levels, then you are said to have this condition.

Effects of High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Effects of High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Source: https://factdr.com

High blood pressure in pregnancy is not something that should be ignored given that it may present adverse effects. Some of these effects include:

Placental Abruption

Placental abruption features the separation of your placenta from the inner walls of the uterus before delivery. This is mainly caused by preeclampsia and may lead to severe bleeding that may be fatal to both the baby and the mother.

Premature Delivery

If your blood pressure is bringing on too many complications in your pregnancy, early induced delivery may be needed. Early delivery will help avoid further issues that may be life-threatening.

Risk of Developing Heart disease

Preeclampsia brings on a high risk of developing heart disease, especially during your pregnancy. You should ensure that you are taking care of your blood pressure levels to avoid this.

Damage to Other Body Organs

High blood pressure may result in the damage of other body organs that are forced to work extra to keep up with the stress on the body. If your blood pressure is left untreated, you could injure your heart, kidney, lungs, brain, and liver among other major organs.

Signs Of Hypertension in Pregnancy

Signs Of Hypertension in Pregnancy
Source: Unsplash

During pregnancy, the idea of suffering from hypertension may be lost on you especially if you’ve never had such before. However, it is possible to suffer from hypertension during pregnancy with no history of such a condition before. This is why you need to understand some of the signs you should be keen to look out for. They include:

Severe headaches

Kidney problems and decreased urine output

Nausea or vomiting

Shortness of breath mainly caused by the presences of fluids in your lungs

Impaired vision or light sensitivity

Upper abdominal pains

What to do to Avoid High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

What to do to Avoid High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

High blood pressure during pregnancy can be avoided and also controlled with the right measures set in place. Some of the things to consider include:

Staying Active

Leading an active lifestyle and exercising is something you should strive for before, during, and after pregnancy. This is important given that it plays a big role in ensuring that your blood pressure levels are under control. It also helps with your cardiovascular health and strength. During pregnancy, be sure to go easy on yourself to avoid any complications.

Eating Healthily

It is without a doubt that you should eat healthy during pregnancy despite your high blood pressure levels. However, following up with this will help you keep your blood pressure levels under control.

Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Keeping tabs on your blood pressure is the best way to ensure that you stay on top of your efforts of having a healthier pregnancy. The best part about this is that you can get bp monitors for home use to keep up. Consult a blood pressure monitor supplier to get the best option.

Conclusion

High blood pressure in pregnancy comes in different types and may bring different complications. To avoid this, be sure to follow your doctor’s advice and adopt practices that will help you manage the high blood pressure levels. 

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How Covid 19 Will Affect Your Heart

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The Covid 19 pandemic has shaken things up in all sectors of our lives with some people being more at risk compared to others. We’ve had the time and again that people with pre-existing conditions are more at risk if they contract this disease. This is especially true for those with a history of high blood pressure and heart problems among others. With high blood pressure getting your levels measured using a hospital use blood pressure monitor is essential. This will help you manage the situation even as you deal with the Covid 19 effects. However, as we are warned about this, most of us have no idea what covid 19 can do to our hearts. The effects of Covid 19 on the heart will be experienced whether you’ve had previous heart issues or not. Some of the different ways Covid 19 will affect your heart include:

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Heart Muscle Inflammation

Heart Muscle Inflammation
Source: https://theconversation.com

When it comes to inflammation of the heart muscle, it is most commonly experienced by patients with advanced Covid 19 disease. This means that the disease has progressed and is not responding to any treatment options. The inflammation in the heart muscle is also referred to as Myocarditis that may also result in direct heart invasion by the virus.

When this occurs, you find that the heart is prone to enlarge and weaken which also results in a significant blood pressure level decrease. To keep tabs on your blood pressure with ease consider having a home-use blood pressure monitor at your disposal.

Additionally, this condition may also result in the appearance of fluids in the lungs which will make breathing effectively a task. Granted, this type of severe form of Myocarditis may be a bit rare. It is however common in most Covid 19 patients in a mild form with more subtle signs and symptoms. Regardless, it is important to ensure that you keep up with your medication to ensure that you are well prepared in case of anything. 

Oxygen Demand

Oxygen Demand
Source: www.vectorstock.com

Covid 19 virus comes with fever and infections that will be catastrophic and affect the heart’s function. This leads to a faster heart rate and may result in further complications like pneumonia. With this, you find that the blood pressure levels are completely unpredictable. They could spike or drop at any given time. These fluctuating levels leave the heart struggling to catch up and cause significant stress as well.

With this, you find that there is high oxygen demand that can be met. This results in the weakening of the heart muscle. Oxygen supply is hindered by a blockage in the heart arteries by a blood clot. This leads to significant heart damage and stress to one’s body. This clotting is facilitated by the covid 19 diseases that could go as far as clogging the lungs. With such a condition the heart is left to deal with too much stress than it can handle. This then leads to a heart attack and may result in heart damage.

Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias
Source: www.carolinaheartandleg.com

Different types of arrhythmia conditions are related to the heart and may differ depending on the causes. However, with Covid 19, you find that the medication is used to treat the disease and keep the virus in control may cause heart arrhythmia. Heart arrhythmia refers to the irregular beat of the heart. It could either be faster or slower than usual. With this, you find that the heart is not able to work at its best and may result in heart damage. It may also result in high blood pressure given the stress inflicted on the heart and your body.

How to Mitigate the Effects of Covid 19 on Your Heart

How to Mitigate the Effects of Covid 19 on Your Heart
Source: Unsplash

Being able to come out in front of this condition and avoid the negative results is the best way to go about this. This is especially true if you have a history of heart illness or other heart-related issues. To help avoid the adverse effects, here are a few things you should pay attention to.

Observe the Covid 19 prevention measures to the letter. It’s better safe than sorry so ensure to protect yourself as well as you can.

Learn more about the Covid 19 signs and symptoms and how to identify them

Keep up with your heart medication and keep up with your lifestyle changes

Ensure that you regularly take accurate blood pressure readings to ensure that you stay ahead and are well informed about your status.

Report to your healthcare provider whenever you feel the Covid 19 symptoms to get tested. This will help you avoid being too late and having to deal with advanced Covid 19 that could prove to be a problem.

Conclusion

Covid-19 has a significant effect on your heart whether you’ve had heart problems before or not. It is however more severe to those with heart issues as underlying conditions. This disease may result in inflammation that could lead to heart damage and deter its function significantly. This is why you need to take your time to ensure that you keep up with your treatment to avoid complications.

The Reason for Sudden High Blood Pressure

Source : https://health.clevelandclinic.org

When your blood pressure levels are above normal and not in a healthy way, you are said to be suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension. This is a chronic condition that needs consistent and close monitoring to ensure you keep up with it. You need to ensure that you keep your doctor’s appointments and get consistent readings on hospital use blood pressure monitors.

This will ensure that you get accurate reading each time and can be advised by your doctor effectively. However, there are times you’ll find that the blood pressure levels suddenly spike even when you don’t have a history of the condition. This is something that may happen to anyone mainly brought about by certain factors. Some of these factors include:

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Dehydration

Dehydration
Source: Unsplash

Not taking enough water may appear to be something small that has no consequence especially at the moment. However, dehydration is real and it’s something that can easily morph into serious health conditions. It will not only affect your skin appearance but will also mess with other parts of your body. Dehydration easily results in a sudden spike in blood pressure, especially in severe cases.

Without enough water in your body, your blood vessels tend to tighten up making your blood pressure levels increase beyond normal. Additionally, your body’s survival instinct will result in kidneys not functioning as well seeing as your body wants to hold on to the little liquid it has. This goes further to disrupt the normal functions of the body and will keep the blood pressure levels quite high. However, to address this, just be sure to keep taking water now and then and your blood pressure will normalize.

Anxiety

Anxiety
Source: Unsplash

Stress and anxiety have numerous effects on the body especially when it comes to our health and well-being. Anxiety is a major cause of sudden high blood pressure in people of different age groups. If the condition is left untreated it could result in hypertension and other health problems that will now need treatment. This is why you need to ensure that you seek treatment for anxiety and find ways to help you cope better with stress. Additionally, stress and anxiety result in a lack of sleep that will also contribute to the sudden spike in your blood pressure throughout the day.

White Coat Effect

White Coat Effect
Source: Unsplash

There is a certain feeling or effect that comes with changing locations that may result in a spike in your blood pressure. This is especially common when going to your doctor’s appointment. You may have taken your readings accurately using your home use blood pressure monitor and get to the doctor only to find it a bit higher. This is caused by the white coat effect. It is more apparent in people who are anxious or afraid of doctor visits and all that the doctors represent. Whitecoat hypertension is not fatal given that it will subside once you are out of the doctor’s office but can be mistaken for hypertension. This is why you need to ensure that you can differentiate between the two to avoid any mistakes.

Sudden Pain

Sudden Pain
Source: commonfund.nih.gov

Experiencing sudden or acute pain in your body sends certain signals to your brain that results in a spike in blood pressure. This sudden spike in blood pressure is however not fatal given the fact that it subsides once the shock wears out. This should therefore not alarm you when your readings are high after experiencing some kind of pain.

Having to Pee

Source: wexnermedical.osu.edu

According to different studies, holding pee can result in a spike in blood pressure as time goes by. This is not a healthy practice mainly because it is uncomfortable and could result in other health problems. This is why it is advised that when you need to pee you should go ahead and do it. Avoid holding it in if you can to avoid any unwanted complications from something so trivial. This applies to both men and women and cuts across different age groups. It goes to show that a sudden blood pressure spike can be experienced by anyone despite their age or gender.

Talking

Talking
Source: unsplash.com

Talking is something that we engage in daily and can be a cause for sudden blood pressure spikes. This is not related to talking too much or too fast but rather focussing more on the emotions involved. If you are talking with anger and resentment you find that your blood pressure levels will increase significantly. To reduce this, take your time to cool down and find your happy place. This will ensure that your blood pressure level stabilizes to avoid any further complications.

Conclusion

Sudden high blood pressure is something that can be experienced by people of different ages and gender. It doesn’t necessarily target those with a history of high blood pressure only. There are a few reasons why this may occur and paying attention to them will leave you in a better position. You’ll be able to try to avoid instances that will make your blood pressure spike suddenly. Take your time to understand these causes and do what is necessary to avoid or control them.

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Vitamins and Blood Pressure

Source : Pixabay

High Blood Pressure has been a global scourge for a very long time, and all indications point to an increase in the number of cases among people as lifestyle habits change with time. The worst part of this condition is that it doesn’t have any known cure; the best one can do is manage it once they are diagnosed, and this is where the challenge begins. You have to watch what you eat, and you have to constantly monitor yourself using a blood pressure monitor.

Fortunately for those battling with hypertension, there are certain vitamins and supplements that can be used to better manage the condition safely without having to rely too much on medication. We will be looking at some of the vitamins recommended for people suffering from hypertension, explore their core benefits and how often they should be taken to stabilize things.

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Vitamin D

Red Meat
Source: Pixabay

It has been found across the board that people who suffer from high blood pressure lack sufficient Vitamin D in their bodies, and this undermines their ability to fight the condition on top of other related diseases that usually follow high blood pressure. Vitamin regulates the amount of calcium, phosphates, and salts in the body, the latter being the biggest culprit behind heightened blood pressure. The best sources of Vitamin D include oily fish, liver, egg yolks, fortified foods, and red meat. Increase the consumption of these foods and more to increase your Vitamin D levels in the body.

B Vitamins

Oysters
Source: Pixabay

The class of B vitamins is broad and diverse, with several elements sourced from different foods, each with its own unique way of dealing with HBP. Vitamin B2, for instance, also known as riboflavin, has been found to be effective in adults who have the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutations that increase the likelihood of someone getting hypertension as they advance into adulthood.

Vitamin B9, also called folic acid, is another vital vitamin that helps people who are also struggling with heart-related diseases. It is recommended that people take a lot of the vitamins when they are young adults to reduce the chances of them developing high blood pressure once they grow up. Vitamin B6 has also been found to contain supplements that reduce hypertension, even in animals. Human experiments are yet to be conducted to determine the efficacy, but all indications point to the high possibility of it being as effective as the other Vitamin B forms.

Common sources of Vitamin B include cheese, milk, eggs, kidney, liver, oysters, dark green vegetables, among many others.

Vitamin C

Source: Pixabay

Vitamin C is probably the most widely known and the most common of all vitamins that are effective against many human body complications, hypertension included. The body can’t function without Vitamin C, and among its many vital functions, it has been found that having sufficient amounts of Vitamin C in the body significantly reduces the chances of getting hypertension, and if you already have it, it makes managing it much easier and bearable.

Some good sources of Vitamin C include strawberries, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, potatoes, black currants, and all types of citrus fruits. You can choose to eat them directly for the best results, or you can choose to blend them as juices and a host of other forms.

Melatonin

Melatonin Supplements
Source: Pinterest

Melatonin is a special hormone that is synthesized in the body with the help of certain vitamins. The hormone serves many functions in the body, with the primary one being promoting sleep, which in turn pacifies the blood pressure in the body. It has been found to bring relief to people who have acute hypertension when they take the hormone in the form of supplements.

Another study conducted by experts also found a possible link between low melatonin levels in women with an increased risk factor for developing high blood pressure. More research is being conducted in that area to find more answers and ways of making the melatonin hormone a potent weapon against high blood pressure.

Potassium

Cantaloupes
Source: Pixabay

Potassium is another vital supplement that works hand in hand with vitamins and other elements to control the amount of sodium in the body. One of the many reasons why hypertension is a food-based issue is due to the continued high intake of salt, which destabilizes the blood pressure. Sometimes the kidneys are unable to properly get rid of the sodium, and once this accumulates in the body, trouble starts.

Potassium stimulates the body to increase the pace of expunging sodium from the body through urine to help blood vessels to relax. It can be taken in as supplement pills or directly by consuming food that is rich in potassium. Some of these foods include bananas, oranges, cantaloupes, spinach, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, peas, cucumbers, among many others.

Magnesium

Salmon
Source: Pixabay

It is hard to properly describe how important magnesium is in the body; it is a cofactor in more than 300 body enzymes that control the many body functions. Basically, in a layman’s language, the body would collapse without this life-giving mineral. Hypertension is one of the many diseases that magnesium helps get under control. So how exactly does magnesium help regulate hypertension?

Magnesium works by stimulating the production of nitric oxide, which in turn leads to the blood vessels relaxing. It has been found that taking about 450mg of magnesium per day over four months by people suffering from acute high blood pressure reduces the effects of the condition by huge leaps. A further study also indicated that taking diets rich in magnesium every day for healthy people keeps them from developing high blood pressure in their later stages of life.

The best sources of magnesium include fish dishes like salmon, mackerel, pollock, and halibut. You can also increase your intake of vegetables like spinach, edamame, okra, and tamarind.

Probiotics

Source: Pixabay

Probiotics are essential bacteria that are found inside the stomach lining, and they play a wide range of vital roles in the body, dealing with hypertension being among them. People with low numbers of probiotics in their body, which can go down due to many reasons, drinking alcohol heavily being one of them, were found to be susceptible to developing high blood pressure compared to those that had enough of them.

The best external sources of probiotics are milk-based products like yogurt and other fermented products. You could also go with taking probiotic supplements to further boost your immunity and give your body the chance to properly manage high blood pressure.

Dealing with Hypertension

Hypertension Drugs
Source: Pixabay

High blood pressure has been linked to lifestyle habits, which means that it is a condition that can be avoided in the first palace for most people. And as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Before you end up relying on medication and supplements, you should first make the following changes in your habits

Eat healthy foods with limited salt. Increase your intake of vitamin-rich foods that are also high in potassium and magnesium. HBP patients are usually put on a special eating program called the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and low-fat foods. Watch what you eat at all times.

You need to lay off alcohol completely. Healthy people are advised to limit their intake of alcohol, and for those that are already dealing with hypertension, touching alcohol is suicide. Alcohol gets absorbed into the blood directly, and this can alter the blood pressure within minutes, worsening an already bad situation.

Monitor yourself constantly. There’s handy enough technologically advanced blood pressure monitors that you can use as a BP check machine at home to keep track of your blood pressure as many times as you can to ensure you are on the safe side. Some even come with mobile apps like the BP Secretary App that lets you monitor yourself in real-time through the seamless interconnection between the smartphone and the BPM.

Keep your stress levels down as much as you can. Your mental state is like a time bomb when you are dealing with hypertension. If you are the type to lose their cool all the time, then you’ll have a hard time navigating through this condition. You have to lead a peaceful life away from the chaos and troublesome people. Any little stress will lead to your hypertension skyrocketing, and it could kill you.

Increase physical activity. High blood pressure goes hand in hand with obesity, and if you find yourself dealing with both, then your chances of survival drastically go down. You have to exercise as much as you can to cut down your body weight, and that will make it easier to deal with high blood pressure. Your blood vessels will become healthier and stronger enough to pump blood, countering the adverse effects of hypertension. If there’s a time in your life where you have to get that gym membership, that time would be now.

Conclusion

High blood pressure is a huge problem around the world, but it is not a death sentence. It may not have a direct cure, but there are many proven ways that you can implement in your life to make sure you manage it. As the leading BP machine company, we specialize in the creation of reliable high blood pressure monitors that give accurate results within seconds. We also have qualified experts who can answer all your questions and concerns to your satisfaction. Therefore, do not hesitate to visit our website or get in touch with us at your convenience.

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The Most Accurate Blood Pressure Machine

Source : Pixabay

Technology has had a far bigger reach in the medical field, more than what people would love to admit. What used to be inaccessible is now in the hands of millions, with blood pressure monitors taking the crown for one of the most innovative creations. Sphygmomanometer types and brands are many, with each promising out of the world results. What can be said to be a fact is that they do work, with some getting the job done better than others. The following are some of the most accurate Blood Pressure Monitors in the market right now.

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Omron Platinum

Omron Platinum BP Monitor
Source: Amazon

Omron Platinum has been one of the most accurate digital blood pressure monitors for years now and continues to perfume even better with every new release. Created by the Omron company that’s also home to a number of other blood pressure monitors that are widely used around the world in homes and hospitals.

Much of its accuracy is down, or a technological feature called TruRead, which takes readings from multiple tests then averages them to get a more accurate final result that is displayed clearly on its big screen. The design of the monitor is great, and one can comfortably hold it in their hands as it is not heavy. It is also portable and can be sued even when you are not in the house. On the price range side, it is a bit costly, but when you consider the features, then it could be described as a value device.

It stores about 200 readings and can accommodate an unlimited number of users at the same time. It also comes with a smartphone app that can be synchronized for easier operations and readings.

Pros

Cons

Beurer BM26

Beurer BM26
Source: www.beurer.com

The Beurer BM26 is another small and convenient blood pressure apparatus that is not only cheap but packs some of the features you’d normally find in high-end devices. Priced at about £30, this blood pressure monitor can store readings of up to 4 different users at the same time, with each user getting storage of about 30 readings. It may not sound much, but it still does get the job done. There’s always that option of using all four slots for one person, and this gives you an impressive 120 readings.

For better accuracy, the Beurer BM26 collects all the readings you have done in a 24hr period, calculates an average of them all to give you a conclusive report on the state of your blood pressure as accurately as it can. The only drawback to the device is the lack of a backlit display. Otherwise, it is a good buy with good accuracy.

Pros

Cons

Raycome RBP 9805

Raycome 9805 blood pressure machine

Raycome has been one of the fastest-growing BPM manufacturers, and their habit of creating top of the range products has been instrumental in establishing their name among the best in the sector. The RBP 9805 is a true testament to their continued efficiency.

Making use of the groundbreaking PulseWave Technology, this sphygmomanometer registers some of the most accurate blood pressure readings. The PulseWave technology works a little differently from most of the other devices. Instead of using a single sensor, this digital BP monitor employs a dual-ballon sensor that conducts a continuous measurement of multi-pressure pulses then combines all the measurements into an average score that displays the closest value to the real reading with very little margins of error.

The technology has been so effective that it has already earned some awards despite being around for a short time. There are patents already filed in over 40 countries where the Raycome RBP 9805 is in high demand. It can be synchronized with the native BP Secretary App.

Pros

Cons

Withings BPM Connect

Source: www.withings.com

Withings BPM Connect has one of the most interesting designs. It is one of the smallest blood pressure monitors you’ll ever come across, a feature that makes it very economical and ideal for people on the move. But don’t let the small size fool you into thinking that it lacks in the major features.

To start off, it has a reliable battery that can last for up to 6 months on a single charge, making it the ideal device to carry with you on long travels; you would still be set even if you forget the charger at home. It also comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, which ensures that readings are shared seamlessly with the mobile app, allowing you to save all your readings to cloud storage. This eliminates the need for internal storage. The cloud data is very secure and can be accessed at any time from any place.

Like most accurate blood pressure monitors, Withings BPM Connect gives the results by taking a number of measurements then doing an average of everything before availing the results through the mobile phone app, storing it in the process.

Pros

Cons

Generation Guard

Generation Guard BPM
Source: generationguard.com

Generation Guard is an arm blood pressure monitor that rates highly among the best digital blood pressure monitors. It has a very simple design that boasts of a cuff that can be extended to fit just about any size of the arm. It also comes with a sleek backlit screen, which allows the user to see the readings in clear legible fonts.

It has a storage capacity of up to 90 readings and comes with its own set of rechargeable batteries and a carry case for those times where you may need to carry it with you on the road. It is not heavy, and you’ll barely feel it in your hands or bag. The adjustable cuff can be made tighter for more accurate readings, and it even comes with a detailed instruction manual to help you understand how to operate it without any outside help.

The accuracy of this device may not be up to par with the Omron and Raycome RBP 9805, but the reading is still decently near to the real thing. As it is always recommended, endure you keep off drinking and smoking before taking any measurements to ensure that you are in the right condition to do that.

Pros

Cons

LifeSource

Source: www.amazon.com

LifeSource is another intricately designed and reliable blood pressure monitor that is one of the most versatile and has the best BP cuffs. The company behind it was reasonable enough to create a cuff that can be adjusted well enough to fit even those with the biggest arms around. One of the reasons why most BPMs don’t post accurate readings is due to having cuffs that are too tight or too large with no option for making adjustments. LifeSource has been able to find a solution to this problem.

The device is so sensitive that it is able to pick out an irregular heartbeat, notifying you immediately, something that can save your life as irregular heartbeats are precursors to something more serious. LifeSource attains a high accuracy level through its high sensitivity and the averaging of several readings to give a result that has very little margins of errors. It can store up to 60 readings, which is way below many of its peers within the same price range, something that should be improved on.

Pros

Cons

Why Accuracy Matters

Source: Pixabay

A digital blood pressure machine designed for home use was designed to reduce those trips to the doctor’s office and to give everyone a self-diagnosis tool in their hands that’s easy to operate. But they are not doctors, and they don’t heal. However, they have to be accurate because wrong information in the medical world can lead to a lot of problems if acted upon as a fact.

An inaccurate reading will lead to a misdiagnosis, which will lead to the patient being prescribed the wrong medicine that will only serve to make an already bad situation worse. This is the reason why every automatic digital blood pressure monitor undergoes rigorous tests to ascertain its accuracies before being released to the consumers. This is also why many blood pressure monitor manufacturers design them to take several readings then find the average, which will be the true representation of what’s on the ground.

Are there things you can do to ensure that the readings your blood pressure monitor takes are as accurate as possible? Yes. Some of the activities you can do include the following.

Conclusion

It is evident that getting the most accurate hypertension checking machine is the most important thing to consider when shopping for BPM devices. There are many other models outside this list that have impressive features worth checking out. If you do have any questions and concerns, please contact us at any time, and we will address everything you have on your mind regarding blood pressure monitors.

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Can a Smartphone App Measure Blood Pressure?

Source : Pixabay

Technology has changed a lot of things around us for the better. Some of the things that were beyond our grasp are now a click away on our smartphones. If there’s one area that has benefited greatly from these milestones, that would be the medical world. Now people can use simple apps to keep track of everything in their bodies, making them aware of any potential health risk.

Hypertension, for instance, can now be monitored from the comfort of your home using nothing but a digital BP monitor. And now, that has been made much easier as blood pressure monitor manufacturers introduced smartphone apps that can measure blood pressure with clinical accuracy.

We are going to explore how these apps work and mention some that have been making headlines this year.

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Top Blood Pressure Monitoring Apps

There are many blood pressure monitoring smartphone apps that claim high efficacy when it comes to keeping track of your blood pressure. Whether that is true is yet to be determined; what is evident, however, is that their technology for pulling this off is already here with us. The following are some of the top apps you should check out.

Withings Health Mate

Withings App
Source: withings.com

The Android and IOS compatible apps have been around for a while, and it started out as an app that tracks other physiological processes in the body. There is a separate Withings device that can be synchronized with the app for better results. Independently, the app does do most of what it purports to do.

Withings Health Mate app works by displaying the data collected by the smart pressure device, which can be connected to the app via a phone using either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It displays the diastolic and systolic blood pressures.

BP Secretary App

BP Secretary App

The BP Secretary App is designed by Raycome and works very well with Raycome blood pressure monitors as well as any other digital BP device that has connectivity. This blood pressure tracking app is equipped with a very user-friendly interface that makes reading the data easier in a much detailed way. It is connected directly to the sphygmomanometer and shows the real values as they are collected by the monitoring device.

The BP Secretary App is available for both IOS and Android and is a very convenient tool for sharing your data with your doctor on the go.

Omron Connect

Omron Connect
Source: omronconnect.com

Omron has been known for high quality and reliable BP instruments. It is only logical that they would also be at the forefront of developing smartphone solutions for their BP devices to make tracking blood pressure easier. The Omron Connect is compatible with Android and IOS, and it is a clean app with a clean UI that displays every piece of information in a clear and understandable format.

The only drawback to the smartphone app is that you can only use it with Omron devices. This could discourage many people from going for it. But when you consider the number of Omron BP monitors in the market, then you’ll have more than enough to use it with.

Qardio

Qardio App
Source: getqardio.com

Qardio is more than a blood pressure monitor app. It is a jack-of-all-trades type of smartphone app that also tracks fitness activities. The app is compatible with Android and IOS and works with Qardio related health monitoring devices.

Unlike most of the other apps, Qardio gives the user the freedom to manually input the data for virtually everything that it tracks. This could come in handy if you are working towards a certain goal. You simply input the data and work your way towards it every day.

Benefits and Risks of Relying on Blood Pressure Monitor Apps

Source: Pixabay

There’s a good and a bad side to relying on smartphone apps to keep track of your health. Beginning with the benefits, the following are some of the reasons why you should give these apps a try

Convenience: Blood pressure monitoring apps are convenient. They have reduced the need for manual operations of BP monitors, and at the same time, they have cut down the number of trips we make to the doctors for checkups. Considering they can be accessed at any time, they are the best thing you can ever want for keeping track of your health.

Cheap: Unlike most BP monitors that cost a  fortune, a majority of these apps are free, and those that are sold are never that expensive. This means that just about anyone with a smartphone can access them and monitor themselves at little to no cost.

Compatibility with Monitors: This is their best quality; the ability to synchronize with certified BP apparatus by a simple touch makes them a must-have feature. With a better UI, operating a blood pressure monitor through the app is more wholesome, and you get to see the data in a clear form that is easy to comprehend.

The get Updates: Monitoring apps are always getting constant updates every week, and this makes them get better and better with time. Every update either comes with a new feature or improves on what was already there. This increases their accuracies with time making them more reliable.

Now to the risks involved with using smartphone apps for something as serious as keeping tabs on your blood pressure, the following as some reasons why you should not entirely depend on them.

Inaccuracies: What makes blood pressure monitors such reliable devices is their ability to pick up even the slightest of blood movements through their highly sensitive cuffs. They have been designed that way. A smartphone doesn’t have that kind of capability, and as much as they still may pick up some readings, they definitely can’t be that accurate; this could mislead you.

They’re Not Secure: Like any other programmable device that can be connected to the internet, the security of your data cannot be assured. There are so many risks involved especially when you are logged in to a public network. Your data may be compromised. Another area of concern is the manner in which the apps use that data. Cases of data being sold to third parties are getting more prevalent, and this is a huge cause for alarm.

Hypertension is Too Serious: Having everything at your disposal to deal with high blood pressure is a good thing. However, this is not a condition to be trifled with; it is too risky for you to hinge everything on an app rather than use the recommended professional blood pressure monitor. If you have to use the apps, then use them alongside the right devices.

The Verdict

Can a smartphone app really measure blood pressure? The answer to that is yes. But the effectiveness of a blood pressure app depends on how well the app has been calibrated, the number of devices it can work with, and how advanced hypertension may be. The brand of the related devices and the type of phone software also plays a huge role.

When using the app to keep track of your blood pressure, just remember to combine that with a proper blood pressure monitor.

Conclusion

Ignoring health tracking apps is folly. They may not be that up to the task, but this is a technological advancement that we cannot ignore; sooner or later, phones are going to replace almost everything that deals with tracking the health of a person. Rather than shun it, people should embrace it so that improvements can be made available faster.

To better understand more about how to use an app to check blood pressure and how it can work with a BP monitor, visit our website and get all the information you need.

Heart Disease in Children and How to Prevent it

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Heart problems in children occur in one of every 100. This is a big number which means you need to ensure that your child does not get here and if they do what should happen next.

The most common health problems that present themselves in kids are heart defects like congenital heart disease. These problems often happen right after birth which means you need to be mindful and be on the lookout for symptoms exhibited.

There are however acquired heart diseases that may also occur in children. Their causes could range from a lifestyle choice to high blood pressure. These acquired diseases include rheumatic heart disease and Kawasaki disease.  Read on to learn more about heart diseases in children.

Table of Contents

Heart Disease Symptoms

Girl having her temperature checked
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When it comes to infants, you need to be very observant to identify the symptoms associated with heart defects. Some of these symptoms include:

These symptoms are associated with a reduction in oxygen supply around the child’s body. The heart’s main purpose is to pump oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

However, if this is not happening as it should then there’ll be a shortage of both blood and oxygen. This will result in the symptoms mentioned.

On the other hand, when it comes to acquired heart diseases, these are the symptoms to look out for.

Risk Factors

Paying attention to the risk factors that could lead to these heart health problems is very important. It will help you ensure that you address these factors before they lead to unwanted situations. Some of these risk factors include:

Smoking

Lit cigarette on a wall
Source: Unsplash

This applies to both infants and older children. As a pregnant mother, you need to completely keep off the indulgence you have for smoking cigarettes.

This smoke is detrimental to your unborn baby and could lead to heart and other problems once your child is born. Older children should try to stay away from second-hand smoke that is also detrimental to their health.

Second-hand smoke is as bad as smoking it yourself so claiming that they don’t smoke doesn’t help. All you need to do is ensure that there’s no one smoking around your kids.

High blood pressure

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High blood pressure during pregnancy might be normal and not cause any damage to your unborn baby. However, when it comes to children developing hypertension, this becomes a lot more alarming.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor and cause of heart health problems. This is why you need to ensure that their blood pressure levels are always maintained. 

To keep track, consider investing in a kid-use blood pressure monitor. This monitor will help you check your child’s blood pressure daily without the struggle of going to your doctor.

Family History

Family seated looking at a book
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It is important to ensure that you consult with your family to find out if there’s anyone who suffers from heart issues. If there is, you’ll be in a better position to prepare your child to prevent it.

It is also important to subject your child to random screening sessions to keep tabs on their heart health. This will help you avoid catching the issues later when it’s too late. Consult with a blood pressure monitor manufacturer to get your child one for kid’s use so you can check your kid’s BP at home as well. 

Lifestyle

Girl using her phone
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Most children have adapted to the trend of staying in bed all day either watching their favorite shows or playing video games.

As a parent, you need to reduce this stagnation and encourage some movement every once in a while. This will keep your child’s heart-healthy.

How To Care for Your Child’s Heart

To ensure that your child’s heart health is in check, here are a few things you should do:

Encourage Movement

Encourage Movement
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The slightest movement will go a long way to helping your child’s heart. Have them go out and play with friends or engage in exercise activities as a family.

Make Healthy Food Accessible and Fun

Child reaching for strawberries on the kitchen counter
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It is important to understand that children will always choose junk over healthy food. To avoid this, you need to set yourself up for success.

Hide all the junk and processed food and stock up on healthy meals and snacks. Also, consider experimenting with different foods to help ensure that your kid stays on track.

Always Show Up

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Your child will need you to be there for them without the pity and the extra protective acts. Try your best to let your child leave a normal life like the rest of the kids and let them know when to stop and rest. This will be supportive and will allow your child to be more excited about activities.

Conclusion

Heart disease also occurs in children which means you need to be more in tune with your child’s health. Pay attention to the symptoms and risk factors to ensure you’re doing things right. Remember to consult with your doctors in case anything happens that alarms you.

Pregnancy and Heart Health

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The overwhelming joy of expecting a little human in your life is unmatched. The experience comes with so many exciting and anxious feelings especially about what you need to do.

During your pregnancy, you’ll have a lot to keep track of to ensure that when your baby comes everything is set. As you work on that you also need to ensure that you keep your health in check.

The best way to do this is to keep the regular doctor’s appointments to have your well being checked. One of the main problems that could present itself is hypertension which comes with other effects, especially on your heart health.

Getting to learn more about this and staying informed will ensure that things go smoothly for you.

Table of Contents

Hypertension in Pregnancy

Woman getting her blood pressure measured
Source: peoplespharmacy.com

Hypertension in pregnancy comes in different types that are developed at different stages during this period. These types include:

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia happens after the 20th week of your pregnancy. It comes with a sudden increase in blood pressure that may cause harm to both you and the baby. It is a serious condition seeing as it could affect your health and your baby’s too or lead to a miscarriage.

Gestational Hypertension

This condition occurs in about 3 out of 50 pregnancies. It usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy and is not as fatal as preeclampsia. Gestational hypertension often goes away after the baby is born.

You should however ensure that you keep tabs on it with constant consultations with your primary health care provider. This is mainly because if left unattended to this condition may morph into preeclampsia which would bring harm to both you and your child.

Chronic Hypertension

Chronic hypertension is a condition that occurs either before you get pregnant or in the early stages of your pregnancy. With constant guidance and help from your doctor, you can easily manage this situation.

Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to avoid any adverse effects from this condition on your baby or even your heart health. 

Risks Associated with Hypertension During Pregnancy

Source: everydayhealth.com

If your high blood pressure goes unchecked, you could be exposing yourself to a lot of health problems for both you and your child. You’ll find that hypertension leads to heart diseases that make its performance very low.

Without oxygenated blood being pumped all through your body, some of your vital organs will fail and your body will no longer be in a position to cater to your unborn child. Hypertension may also lead to a placental abruption or early delivery before the baby’s time is due.

Hypertension also affects those who are trying their best to conceive and hold their baby. It makes this even harder especially if you decide to forget about your blood pressure and neglect your doctor’s advice.

When your baby is born, they could develop the same condition and that could affect their heart. Investing in a kid-use blood pressure monitor will help you keep track of your child’s bp levels.

Risk Factors you Should Consider

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Talking to your doctor about any concerns you may have earlier on in the pregnancy is essential. It will help you set the necessary measures required to ensure that you get through your pregnancy without any complications.

To have a better understanding of your hypertension risks, your doctor will consider the following factors.

Family History

Is there a history of people suffering from high blood pressure during pregnancy? You’ll have to have a clear understanding of your family and their health history. This will help inform your doctor if you’re prone to developing hypertension.

Underlying Health Conditions

Some health conditions may cause an increase in blood pressure. Given that you are pregnant this becomes more likely and could lead to hypertension. Discussing this with your doctor will help you get the necessary medication and instructions on how to manage it.

Medication Used

Your doctor will want to know about any medication you took to either avoid getting pregnant or boost your chances to get pregnant. This is because such medication is prone to changing your system’s normal workings and may introduce a few health problems. If you did, your doctor will have a plan for what needs to happen next. 

What you Can Do to Keep Your Hypertension in Check

doctor and pregnant woman talking
Source: healthline.com

Managing your blood pressure levels and keeping your heart health in check is a matter of leading a healthy lifestyle. Eat the right foods, stay active, and have a clear understanding of what you need to avoid. You should also consider investing in a home-use blood pressure monitor that will help you keep track of your levels.

Conclusion

Hypertension is one of the main determinants of your heart health during pregnancy which is why you need to understand what is entailed. Learn the risk factors, and how to manage the situation to ensure that your pregnancy has no complications.

In case of any issues or concerns, always remember to consult with your doctor. Your doctor will be in a much better position to help you and help boost your heart health while pregnant.

Heart Health Tips for Kids

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Heart health is not only important for adults but also for kids as well. You need to take the necessary steps to ensure that you develop habits that boost your kid’s heart health. It is important to note that there are acquired heart diseases that could also affect kids.

These diseases include rheumatic heart disease and Kawasaki disease. With this in mind, you should work on changing your kid’s lifestyle to ensure that they acquire such diseases.

With children, introducing new concepts and ways of life will be hard. You’ll need to take it slow and start with one thing at a time. Here are a few things that will help with kid’s heart health.

Table of Contents

Healthy Snacks

Child holding a bowl of berries
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Children are prone to regular snacking throughout the day. However, these snacks are mainly consistent with highly processed foods and junk that is not beneficial to your child.

You should try your best to find alternative snacks that will replace what your child likes to eat most.

If your kid loves sugary snacks, then fruits will be a great substitute for the otherwise unhealthy snacks. Starting this at an early age will instill the right eating habits for your kids. As they grow up they’ll be more inclined to make healthy snack decisions

Healthy Meals

Healthy meals
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Most children are not big fans of eating a healthy diet especially when they have to do it every day for every meal. However, you should encourage them to embrace healthy meals and make them part and parcel of their daily routine.

The meals should be high in fiber, all the major food groups, and most importantly vegetables and fruits. Reduce the indulgence of salt and saturated fats in your meals. This will help you reduce the risks of heart disease and boost your heart health.

To make this transition easier on your kids, make it a family initiative. Get the whole family to adopt healthy eating habits to ensure that your child is surrounded by people doing what they encourage them to do.

Play and Exercise

Children playing in a field
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Exercising for most children is another chore that they have to do. However, to change this perception, you could include the exercises in their play routine. Get the friend they play with and encourage more movement.

This will be more exciting for your child and help them improve their mental, physical, and heart health. You should encourage your kids to join sports clubs in school to ensure they stay active when they get back to school.

It is also important to understand as a family you’ll need to contribute toward encouraging more movement. You can do this by having family activities and games that you all participate in.

If your child grows up with such influence they’ll be more inclined to keep it up all through their life. This will go a long way to improving their well being and keeping heart diseases away.

Screen Time

Children on their screens
Source: theness.com

Time spent on the tablets and watching tv encourages the adoption of passive activities which later becomes a habit. This means that your child will prefer to live an inactive life which could be harmful to their health and even lead to heart disease.

To avoid this, you need to set ground rules and let them understand how long they are allowed to use their screens. Try to limit it to two or three hours a day and have them engage in other activities during the rest of the day.

These activities could vary from swimming, drawing to even going out for a bike ride. All you need to do is ensure that they are active and have an understanding of when their screen time starts and ends. This will encourage your child to do more and boost their health and wellbeing.

Regular Checkups

accurate bp monitor
Source: webmd.com

Subjecting your child to regular checkups is very important and you should ensure that you keep up with your doctor’s appointments. This is especially important for children suffering from conditions that could result in heart diseases.

For instance, if a child is suffering from high blood pressure, you’ll need to monitor the situation and ensure that it is well maintained. To do this, you have two options to either go for regular checkups or invest in a kid-use blood pressure monitor.

Both options will get the job done however, reserving your doctor’s visits for when you need a consultation is always the best. Learn how to use the blood pressure monitor and take the reading’s of your child’s blood pressure yourself.

Conclusion

Maintaining your kid’s heart health only requires you to introduce a few lifestyle changes. It may be hard for them to cope but they’ll get there. Just keep on pushing and remember the earlier they start this healthy lifestyle the more inclined they’ll be to run with it even when they are older.

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What You Need to Know About Low Blood Pressure for a Child

Source : heart.org

Abnormal levels of blood pressure are often associated with adults and not children. However, this is not necessarily the case because children are also prone to both high and low blood pressure. This goes to show that paying attention to your child’s health is essential.

Don’t assume just because they are kids they don’t need to lead a healthy lifestyle because some diseases like low blood pressure cannot affect them. To better understand hypotension in children, here are a few things you should know:

Table of Contents

What is Paediatric Low Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure readings on a bp monitor
Source: webmd.com

Blood pressure is measured by looking at two determining factors. These factors include:

Systolic pressure

This refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart pumps blood. It is the topmost number on the blood pressure monitor and the results given to a patient. 

Diastolic pressure

This refers to the pressure experienced in the arteries between heartbeats. When the heart is filled with blood and when it is relaxed. It is the bottom number found in the measurements.

Normal blood pressure levels should read between 90/60 and 130/80. Low blood pressure happens when the levels are lower than the normal range.

When it comes to adults, low blood pressure is not a major cause for concern unless it comes with other symptoms.

However, with kids, the situation is different. Low blood pressure in children is a major cause for concern that requires you to get in deeper and find what caused the changes. This will help ensure that the problem is taken care of accurately and on time.

Types of Paediatric Low Blood Pressure

Source: healthline.com

When it comes to low blood pressure in kids, there are three different types that you need to educate yourself about. They include:

Neurally Mediated Hypotension

This condition is also known as NMH. It happens when the body is unable to regulate blood pressure. It especially happens when your child is upright or has been standing for a long time. It causes a 20-25 mm Hg drop in systolic pressure.

The symptoms associated include lightheadedness, syncope( fainting), dizziness, and slow speech. This condition if managed accurately will fade away as the child grows older.

Severe Hypotension

Severe hypotension is closely linked to shock that occurs when your body organs don’t get the required amounts of blood and oxygen. It may present itself when your child has an infection, an allergic reaction, or gets an injury leading to a lot of blood loss.

This condition can be very fatal if not addressed immediately. This is mainly due to the restriction of blood and oxygen. Your body organs depend on the two to function making restriction very dangerous.

Orthostatic Hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension with the inability of your body to quickly respond to posture changes. It presents itself when your child sits or stands suddenly which throws off their body.

It causes a 20 mm Hg decrease in systolic pressure and a 10 mm Hg drop in diastolic pressure. This condition is fairly manageable but could be chronic if left unattended. It comes with symptoms ranging from dizziness, weakness, nausea, and fatigue. 

Signs and Symptoms of Paediatric Low Blood Pressure

Source: tipsforwomens.org

Knowing the signs and symptoms of hypotension is very crucial. It will help you identify the problem in your child and encourage you to seek medical attention on time. The signs and symptoms include:

If you notice any of these signs you need to consult with your pediatrician and get advice on what could be the cause. If you want to be better prepared, invest in a kid-use blood pressure monitor, and take your child’s readings yourself.

If you notice any drastic drops in either the systolic or diastolic pressure you should book an appointment for a thorough check-up.

Causes of Hypotension in Children

Child drinking water
Source: parenting.firstcry.com

Hypotension in children is caused by a variety of factors. Some that can be avoided and others that you can only manage. These causes include:

Dehydration

This is one of the causes that can be avoided by encouraging your child to drink more water or provide them with foods rich in water.

Sudden posture changes

You should encourage your child to move slower as they change postures to avoid the shock on their bodies.

Arrhythmia

This happens when the heartbeat and rhythm are abnormal. You should take this up with your doctor to avoid any heart diseases.

Anaphylaxis

This factor requires you to be very keen about what your child is allergic to. You need to always avoid whatever they are allergic to by all costs. This is mainly because anaphylaxis is a shock on the body that could be fatal.

Conclusion

Low blood pressure in children is something that needs to be addressed and not neglected. Pay attention to the symptoms and work toward finding the causes. This will help you avoid making the situation worse. Consult with your pediatrician to find ways to manage your child’s blood pressure and keep it at a normal level.