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The COVID19 pandemic has engulfed the world and affected virtually every aspect of life. The pandemic demands safety measures like social distancing, wearing masks, and not leaving the house unnecessarily. Such measures, while helpful in curbing the spread of the virus, can be tricky for people suffering from various chronic illnesses as they need to frequently see a doctor.
One common illness that requires regular checkups is Hypertension, commonly known as blood pressure. It is mandatory for a patient suffering from this disease to get their blood pressure checked periodically so they can manage their health better.
In this article, we will be discussing ways of measuring blood pressure at home, saving yourself from exposure to the general public.
Table of Contents
How To Measure Your Blood Pressure With a BP Apparatus
In order to check your BP yourself you will have to buy a home blood pressure monitor. There are two kinds of BP apparatus; manual and digital. Blood pressure monitors manufacturers have done a good job at making BP apparatus simple and easy to use, so you will have no problem checking your BP at home. The following is the detail of how to use each type of BP machine.
Using Manual BP Apparatus
The manual BP apparatus device includes a cuff that wraps around the arm, a rubber squeeze bulb, and a gauge that monitors the blood pressure. A gadget known as a stethoscope is required to listen to the blood pulsing inside the artery. Here’s how to use it:
- Find a quiet place and sit in a comfy chair. Rest for more than five minutes.
- Make sure your arm is in line with your heart and your legs are not crossed, improper posture can add error to the reading.
- Take out the stethoscope and the cuff.
- Find your brachial artery. This is the artery that runs across the length of the arm and is used to listen for blood pressure. It is located in the bend of the arm and you can find it by tracing the area with two fingers until you feel a big artery.
- Wrap the cuff 2 inches above the bend of the arm. Make sure the arrow of the cuff sits on top of the brachial artery. Place the dial somewhere you can clearly see it.
- Take out the stethoscope and put it on, and put the other end of the stethoscope on the brachial artery under the cuff.
- Press the pump to gradually inflate the cuff while looking at the dial. Keep inflating until the dial reaches almost 130-150, then slowly deflate while listening for a sound. The second you hear a sound, note down the number that the needle is on. This is your systolic BP.
- Keep deflating until you no longer hear a sound. At that point, note the number the needle is on. This is the diastolic pressure.
Depending on the sphygmomanometer manufacturer, this process can take one to five minutes.
Blood pressure is noted as a fraction of systolic over diastolic. Normal BP is 120/80mmHg. Compare your reading to normal and note if it is higher or lower.
After noting the BP, you can take off the deflated cuff and store it with the other apparatus for future use.
Here is a video showing you how to check BP at home using manual home BP machines.
Using Digital BP Apparatus
Digital BP monitor manufacturers have truly made checking BP very easy. You do not have to do any pumping and the screen automatically shows your BP reading. You will be shocked at how compact the bp apparatus companies have managed to make their products. Here is how to use one:
- Sit on a chair with feet aligned to the ground.
- Place your arm on a flat surface and make sure your palm is facing up.
Put on the cuff of the digital bp apparatus, make sure its tube is on top of the arm-bend, not on the opposite side, touching the elbow.
Press the start button on the machine and you will feel it inflate. Just sit still for a few minutes and you will feel it deflate. Do not make any movements during this.
Once the cuff deflates, you will be able to see the readings of both systolic and diastolic pressure on the LED screen of the digital machine.
If you face problems while using the BP machine, consider changing the blood pressure monitor supplier, because only low-quality machines are hard to use. The PulseWave blood pressure monitor is famous for its advanced technology. This an innovative technology (not Oscillometric method), using dual-balloons/sensors technology (instead of other single balloons/sensor ordinary digital blood pressure devices) and continuous measurement of multi-point pressure between pulses to achieve the most accurate measurement during the record of the accurate real state of blood flow. It was called the most accurate BP device. A rechargeable Lithium battery saves costs for users. Remember the best digital blood pressure monitors for home use are the ones that are easy to master and give consistently accurate readings.
Here is a video showing you how to use digital blood pressure monitors for home use:
How To Measure Your Blood Pressure at Home Without Apparatus
Digital monitors available in the market give you readings of both heart rate and blood pressure but if you don’t have the apparatus you can still measure your heart rate by checking your pulse by hand. Pulse is an estimate of the number of times your heart beats in one minute. For checking correctly, you need to locate the radial artery below the thumb on the inside of the forearm and place your finger there. Count the beat for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to get your resting heart rate.
Conclusion
Once you purchase a blood pressure monitor machine for home use, it will become easy for you to check your blood pressure regularly at your home. Most blood pressure monitor suppliers include a comprehensive user guide with their products so will be able to figure out how to use them. When measuring blood pressure at home remember to note down your readings so you know when to seek advice from your doctor. Regular monitoring of your blood pressure, exercise, and eating right will ensure your heart stays healthy and happy.
