What Your Blood Pressure Numbers Mean
There are two numbers involved in a blood pressure reading: systolic and diastolic. Systolic, the top number, refers to the amount of pressure in the arteries with every heartbeat. Diastolic, the bottom number, measures the pressure in arteries between heartbeats.
Normal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 mmHg, prehypertension is 120-139/80-90 mmHg, stage one hypertension is 140-159/90-99 mmHg, stage two hypertension is 160+/100+, and hypertensive crisisis a reading of over 180/110.
When Is The Best Time To Take Blood Pressure Medication
Raleigh Medical Group, P.A.Blood Pressure, General Posts, Men’s Health, Women’s Healthhigh blood pressure, men’s health, women’s health
One out of three American adults has high blood pressure, equating to roughly 75 million people. When you take into account health care services, medications and work absences, the cost of this disease is more than $46 billion annually, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control.
High blood pressure places you at a greater risk for heart attacks or strokes, and yet it is known as the silent killer because there are often no noticeable symptoms. In addition to diet and lifestyle changes, medication can help reduce your blood pressure and your risk of complications such as kidney damage, stroke and heart damage.
However, its very important that you speak to one of our general practitioners in Raleigh about what time you should take your blood pressure medications.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
In some cases, your doctor may recommend 24-hour or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring .
This is where your blood pressure is tested automatically around every 30 minutes over a 24-hour period using a cuff attached to a portable device worn on your waist.
ABPM can help to give a clear picture of how your blood pressure changes over the course of a day.
You should continue with your normal daily activities during the test, although you must avoid getting the equipment wet.
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What Is Normal Blood Pressure
For years we have been told that a normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 however, more and more doctors have now lowered these numbers to 115/75. Blood pressure is different for everyone as many factors can have an effect on the numbers.
Our blood pressure refers to the amount of force behind the blood as it hits the arterial walls. As the heart pumps the blood, an ideal pressure sees the blood push against the walls that are flexible enough to expand and retract easily. Over time, our age, diet, and physical activity play a role on the elasticity of our blood vessels. With a loss of flexibility due to hardening of the walls, the heart needs to work harder to push the blood.
These factors determine the blood pressure numbers. The systolic number is the top number, and it indicates the pressure as the heart beats or pushes the blood throughout the body. The diastolic number is the bottom number, and refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. During this time, the heart receives oxygen as it fills with blood.
How Blood Pressure Medications Work
Blood pressure tends to vary during the day. It tends to be higher when you wake up in the morning and during the morning hours, and lower in the night and when sleeping. However, there are people whose blood pressure does not drop at night researchers call these “non-dippers.”
Most blood pressure medications have been designed for ease of use, meaning they are meant to be taken once per day. Even so, these medications are not equally effective over the entire 24-hour period during which they are active.
The action of blood pressure drugs peaks anywhere from four to 15 hours later after you take a dose. Ideally, the drug is prescribed so that the peak concentration coincides with the time of day when your blood pressure is at its highest.
There are several different types of blood pressure medications that have different mechanisms of action and are thus best taken at certain times of day.
Medications that are best taken in the morning:
- Diuretics, or water-pills”:These include Diuril and Lozol , and work by helping your kidneys get rid of extra water in your body. Because diuretics can cause you to urinate more , it’s best to take them in the morning. If you need a second dose, take it by mid-afternoon.
Some other common blood pressure medications that are best taken at bedtime include:
- ACE inhibitors , including Lotensin and Vasotec
- ARBs , such as Avapro
- Beta blockers, such as Lopressor
- Calcium Channel blockers, such as Norvasc
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What Is A Healthy Blood Pressure Reading
Your blood pressure measures the force of the blood being pushed through your body as your heart beats.
The first number is called your systolic pressure. It measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart pumps. The second number is called your diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure in your blood vessels in between heartbeats.
A blood pressure reading is considered healthy if it is 120/80 millimeters of mercury or below. Any blood pressure above this is considered elevated or abnormal.
A single blood pressure reading in the higher range isnt cause for concern, but if youre regularly getting higher readings, a medical professional will make a plan to help you lower your numbers.
Elevated blood pressure categories include:
Monitoring Your Blood Pressure
Taking your blood pressure at home is key, says Luke. If youre monitoring regularly, its not something you want to do every day, but you want to make it part of your routine a couple times a week. Taking it at various times throughout the day is also more accurate than the readings you receive at your doctors office, surprisingly, she says.
When patients are worried about having an appointment, finding parking and getting to their doctors office on time, these stress factors actually affect their blood pressure and whats taken at the time of their appointment may not be accurate.
Luke advises scheduling your readings around the time of your medications, or when you have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Try setting an alarm for when youre relaxing and watching television at night.
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Blood Pressure Monitor For Your Health And Well
- The UNB
- The DAXplus 2 home blood pressure monitor with irregular heartbeat detection allows you to identify arrhythmias or palpitations by comparing measurements to internationally recognized standards for home blood pressure usage using the Visual BP Guide.
- The automated BP machine measures the pulse rate to determine how efficiently the heart is functioning. It aids in determining whether enough blood is being circulated to identify symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, faintness, chest discomfort, or breathlessness.
- The EASY READ LCD is easy to see and read, with up to 120 readings for two users with a date and time stamp, as well as high contrast and oral reading in English or Spanish.
- PRODUCT SPECS- 1 standard adult blood pressure cuff measuring 11.75-16.5 and 1 big adult cuff measuring 16.5-18.875 with zippered case Included
Blood pressure readings can be easily identified as variations in blood pressure readings have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and fatal heart disease. Keeping track of your blood pressure at home may help you identify changes that you can bring to your doctors attention.
The E-Series digital thermometer can keep track of up to 120 readings for two persons, allowing you to log both yourself and another family member on the same screen. This is the finest blood pressure monitor available, not just for you but also for your loved ones.
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When Should I Get My Blood Pressure Tested
You can ask for a blood pressure test if you’re worried about your blood pressure at any point.
You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:
- your local GP surgery
- at home
- at an NHS Health Check appointment offered to adults in England aged 40-74
It’s recommended that all adults over 40 years of age have their blood pressure tested at least every 5 years so any potential problems can be detected early.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with high or low blood pressure, or you’re at a particularly high risk of these problems, you may need to have more frequent tests to monitor your blood pressure.
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Urgent Care On Standby
If you need urgent care, you may need it immediately. BASS Urgent Care always has staff on standby, ready to help. We provide vaccinations, routine check-ups, x-rays, MRIs, laboratory services, and more. We understand that it is a busy time for healthcare practices. BASS Advanced Urgent Care strives to see our patients as quickly as possible and deliver the best results possible. To set up an appointment ahead of time, reach us at 329-3718, or book with us online.
Taking Your Blood Pressure
If you have a manual or digital blood pressure monitor, follow the instruction booklet carefully. The following steps provide an overview of how to take your blood pressure using either a manual or digital blood pressure monitor.
1. Locate your pulse
Locate your pulse by lightly pressing your index and middle fingers slightly to the inside center of the bend of the elbow. Here you can feel the pulse of the brachial artery. If you cannot locate a pulse, place the head of the stethoscope or the arm cuff in the same general area.
2. Secure the cuff
A. Thread the cuff end through the metal loop and slide the cuff onto your arm, making sure that the stethoscope head is over the artery. The lower edge of the cuff should be about 1 inch above the bend of your elbow. Use the Velcro wrap to make the cuff snug, but not too tight.
B. Place the stethoscope in your ears. Tilt the earpiece slightly forward to get the best sound.
3. Inflate and deflate the cuff
If you are using a manual monitor:
A. Hold the pressure gauge in your left hand and the bulb in your right.
B. Close the airflow valve on the bulb by turning the screw clockwise.
C. Inflate the cuff by squeezing the bulb with your right hand. You may hear your pulse in the stethoscope.
D. Watch the gauge. Keep inflating the cuff until the gauge reads about 30 points above your expected systolic pressure. At this point, you should not hear your pulse in the stethoscope.
G. Continue to slowly deflate the cuff.
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What Is The Best Time To Check Your Blood Pressure
Purchasing a blood pressure monitoring device is a great first step in taking control of your health. However, knowing when the best time is to collect this data and how to interpret it is key to understanding and effectively managing high blood pressure conditions.
Blood pressure readings can fluctuate throughout the day, which makes it important to check readings several times and at different points. Checking your BP monitor about five to six times will help you obtain a good idea of where your blood pressure lies. Establishing a routine of checking your monitor will help this effort.
The following is an example of the information your doctor needs to better assess your blood pressure:
| Time |
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What Is The Best Time To Take Blood Pressure
Blood pressure fluctuates during the whole day. Typically, it is lowest right after waking up, and varies by up to 30% in the rest of the day. These variations are actually the results of the hormonal changes, variations of the activity levels, eating, etc. Thus, you’d better take blood pressure reading an hour after waking up, before breakfast or any morning exercise. If you want to take two BP readings daily, then take the second reading after an hour of the dinner. Your physician might suggest you to take the blood pressure at the same time on daily basis.
But, indeed, there isn’t a single best time to take blood pressure. And the decision of allocating a good time to check the blood pressure should comprise of the function of three things: the reason why you are checking your blood pressure, what your schedule is and which time is convenient for you.
While choosing a best time to take blood pressure, the time should be decided according to the feasibility in your schedule. Because the part of the day selected for the checkup should not be disturbed by any work or the other conflicts.
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Best Time To Take Blood Pressure
Taking blood pressure is important part of routine medical checkups because the high blood pressure can be an indication of the health problems of the future, like heart attack , stroke, kidney disease, dementia, etc. So, checking blood pressure is important, especially when you have been asked to do so by your physician. So, how to check your BP at home? And what’s the best time to take blood pressure? These questions and other queries related to blood pressure will be answered in this article.
Normal Blood Pressure For Men
Men are recommended to have an average normal blood pressure of 120/80 however, as we have noted, there are varying factors to consider when determining what works for each person. What is normal for a man in his 30s is not deemed a normal reading for a man in his 60s.
The following are the average blood pressures and the corresponding lows and highs for men from ages 15 to 64 years.
| Age |
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Best Blood Pressure Monitors Of 2021 How To Choose
Are you looking for a new blood pressure monitor? The best way to find the right one is by reading reviews. There are many different types of monitors, so its important to know what your needs are before making a purchase. For example, some people need an automatic monitor that will take readings every day and send them to their phone or email. Other people may want something more basic with fewer features but still accurate enough for their needs. Weve done all the research for you! Here are our picks for the top 15 blood pressure monitors on the market in 2021. Read through this list and choose which one sounds like it would be perfect for your lifestyle!
Keeping track of your health is nowadays quite essential. Its critical to check your blood pressure at least once a week or more frequently if youre experiencing any problems with it. Theres a good chance that your blood pressure has increased without your knowledge. Yeah! This is truly the reason why we dont take care of our health very often.
With the greatest blood pressure monitor, checking your blood pressure might be a simple job. I believe that rather than consulting a doctor every time one purchases a blood pressure monitor machine, its more efficient to use such equipment. Simply tapping one time on the sensor will provide you an error-free health reading. Investing in the best blood pressure monitors will save you time and money.
The Omron Gold Blood Pressure Monitor
- The OMRON Gold Upper Arm Monitor is an upper arm monitor with unlimited memory and 120 total blood pressure readings for two users. The OMROn Connect app is also compatible with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, allowing you to use the OMRON Gold Upper Arm Monitor.
- The Gold cuff is intended for all adult upper arms 9 to 17 in diameter and above. This soft, wide-range D-ring cuff was created to make taking your arm circumference measurements a lot more pleasant.
- The high morning average indicator warns the user if systolic or diastolic readings are outside of normal range in the morning, when there is a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. This feature is available on only the Gold and Platinum series monitors.
- The OMRON Gold monitor includes a dual-display, last reading comparison, and simple screen navigation.
- Blood pressure fluctuates all the time, and your blood pressure may be affected by a variety of things including stress, time of day, and how you wrap the cuff.
Omron is the most popular home blood pressure monitor brand recommended by doctors and pharmacists for accurate at-home monitoring. Gold and platinum monitors are only available on Amazon. When the sensor detects that the systolic or diastolic readings are abnormal at some point during the day, it notifies the user if they are outside of normal range, suggesting a higher chance of heart attack or stroke.
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Working With Your Doctor Or Nurse
You wont usually make a decision about treatment based solely on the readings you have taken at home. But they may find it useful to know what youre blood pressure is like when youre away from the clinic.
Talk to your doctor or nurse before you start to measure your blood pressure at home. They advise you on when to measure your blood pressure and how often, and this can help you both to be clear about what you are doing and why.
Bring your records with you to your appointments so they can use it to review your treatment.
Make sure your monitor is suitable and you know how to use it
It is a good idea to bring your monitor to the appointment so that your doctor or nurse can check that it is validated and accurate, that it fits properly, and that you know how to use it. They can show you if youre not sure.
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For further information on home monitoring, download our booklet, Measuring your BP at home .