If you have high blood pressure, owning a home monitor can help you keep track of your levels
What you should know:
• The arm should be level to the heart
•A normal reading for top number is 120 to 139
•A normal reading for bottom number is 80 to 89
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Transcript
Hi, I’m Cordell Brown and I’m a CVS pharmacist. If you have high blood pressure, owning a home monitor can help you keep track of your levels.
Arm monitors are the most common and they are available in two types. Aneroid monitors are similar to the ones used in most doctors’ offices and are the least expensive. You simply wrap the cuff around your arm, squeeze a rubber ball to inflate the cuff, and listen to your pulse through a stethoscope as the cuff slowly deflates.
Digital monitors are similar, but you don’t have to use a stethoscope, and some models inflate automatically, so you don’t have to squeeze a bulb. After the cuff deflates, your pressure appears on screen. Although digital monitors are more expensive, they’re easier to use and leave less room for human error. They’re also a good choice for anyone with hearing problems, because you don’t have to listen through a stethoscope.
To ensure accurate results, make sure your cuff fits snugly around your bicep but you can still stick a finger under it. Also, take your home monitor with you to your next doctor’s appointment to check the accuracy against their machines.
When using your monitor, relax for a few minutes beforehand, sit still with your arm resting on a table so it is roughly level with your heart, and don’t talk while measuring. When storing your monitor be careful not to twist the tube or keep it near heat, and regularly check the tube for cracks or leaks.
Most importantly, understand your numbers. The top number, called systolic, describes the force of your blood when your heart beats. The bottom number, or diastolic, is the pressure when the main chamber in the left ventricle of your heart is at rest. As a general guideline, anything between 120 to 139 systolic and 80 to 89 diastolic is considered at-risk. Anything above 140 over 90 qualifies as high blood pressure.
If you have any questions, ask your CVS pharmacist. We’re here to help.
Source: CVS Caremark Health Resources
Duration : 0:2:8
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