Common Causes Of Inaccurate Readings
A number of factors can affect your blood pressure and heart rate. If your numbers are unusually high or low, make some adjustments before trying again:
- Stress. When youre worried, stress hormones temporarily elevate both your blood pressure and heart rate. Avoid stressors before checking your blood pressure at home.
- Drug and alcohol use. Tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine can affect your numbers, so avoid stimulants and depressants.
- Other medicines. Talk with your doctor about prescription and over-the-counter medicines that may interfere with an accurate reading.
Once you determine your heart rate and blood pressure, record them in a journal or app. Try taking your pulse and checking your blood pressure around the same time every day to establish a personalized baseline. Its that baseline your doctor will use to help you determine what your numbers mean.
To schedule a comprehensive heart screening, visit UPMCs Heart and Vascular Institute.
Free Blood Pressure Check Walmart
Checking your blood pressure is definitely something important that should be done in regular basis. It is a necessary to prevent high blood pressure being unnoticed. Usually, you should see a healthcare or doctor to get the reading but now there is also the free blood pressure check Walmart. Yes, Walmart now provides free blood pressure reading in its interactive kiosk known as SoloHealth. It is available at more than 2.500 Walmart stores across the US. Apparently, it doesnt only check the blood pressure but also eyesight, weight, and also track eating habits.
Customer Reviews on Free Blood Pressure Check Walmart
With this free blood pressure check Walmart service available at Walmart, there are certainly a lot of Walmart customers that have tried to use this particular service. So, how do they feel about it? Apparently some customers are satisfied while some others are not. There is a reason why some of them are not satisfied with this service. So, it is a great idea to find out why they feel that way. Lets find out what the customers say.
This particular case happens to a lot of overweight customers. They said that the reading at the Walmart was higher beyond the correct reading. Therefore, it is certainly an interesting thing to discuss. Certainly, there is something wrong with the blood pressure reading tool.
Treating High Blood Pressure
Fortunately, treating high blood pressure is relatively easy. And the earlier to catch it the more likely you are to reverse the effects of it.
The type of treatment your doctor prescribes depends on a couple of things including how high your blood pressure is and what is causing it.
For example, if your diet and lifestyle are causing your high blood pressure you may be able to remedy this by making changes to these. If you have a family history of high blood pressure a doctor may prescribe medication to help lower this.
In some cases, your doctor will prescribe a combination of treatments to lower your blood pressure.
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The New Normal May Be Lower Than You Think
The definition of high blood pressure has changed in recent years. Before 2017, anything below 140/90 mm Hg was considered OK. Now, a blood pressure at or above 130/80 mm Hg is deemed high, according to updated guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
“This still comes as a surprise to many patients, even though that recommendation has been in place now for nearly four years, says Erin Michos, M.D., a cardiologist and an associate professor in the Division of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Many patients are still not familiar with the new targets.
Results from a large federal study called SPRINT are a major reason for the change in guidelines. Researchers found that adults age 50 and older who brought their systolic blood pressure below 120 mm Hg significantly lowered their risk for heart attack, heart failure or stroke by 25 percent, compared with adults with a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg. They also slashed their risk of death by 27 percent.
“That’s huge, said Cora Lewis, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, who worked on the study. That’s people who did not die.
In fact, the benefits of intensive blood pressure control were so obvious that the study was stopped early. However, several years of follow-up data, published last month in the;New England Journal of Medicine, confirm the initial findings.
Tips For Checking Your Own Blood Pressure
There are certain factors that can cause blood pressure to temporarily rise. For example, blood pressure normally rises as a result of:
- Stress
- Caffeine
- Certain medicines
Try to avoid as many of these factors as you can when taking your blood pressure. Also, try to measure your blood pressure at about the same time each day. Your doctor may want you to check your blood pressure several times during the day to see if it fluctuates.
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What Puts Me At Higher Risk For High Blood Pressure
Your risk for high blood pressure goes up as you get older. Youre also at increased risk for high blood pressure if you:
- Are African American
- Are overweight or have obesity
- Dont get enough physical activity
- Drink too much alcohol
- Dont eat a healthy diet
- Have kidney failure, diabetes, or some types of heart disease
Learn more about;your risk for high blood pressure.
What Does It Mean To Have High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is when your blood pressure is permanently higher than normal. High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for heart disease, especially heart attacks and strokes.
Its possible to have high blood pressure without knowing, so its important to keep an eye on it by getting your heart health checked regularly by a health professional.
There is a clear link between high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease, in particular having a heart attack or stroke.
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Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring
Selected Allcare pharmacies can provide a 24-hour blood pressure monitoring service. By measuring your blood pressure at regular intervals over 24 hours, you will get a clearer picture of how your blood pressure changes throughout the day. It is a more accurate reading of your blood pressure across 24 hours, instead of a single snapshot at a particular point in the day. Click here for more details.
How much does it cost?
- A member of your pharmacy team can carry out a once-off blood pressure check in our consultation room free of charge and advise you on your result.
- If you opt for our 24-hour blood pressure monitoring service, the cost is 45. Ask your pharmacy team if this is available in your pharmacy and to make an appointment.
How can your AllCare pharmacy team help if you have high blood pressure?
Your Allcare Pharmacy team can advise you on the following areas in order to help you to keep your blood pressure under control.
You Could Be At Higher Risk
Anyone can develop High Blood Pressure but some things put you at more risk. If you belong to one of these groups you have a higher risk of being affected by high blood pressure:
- those over age 60
- those of Black African and Black Caribbean ethnicity
- those who are overweight or obese
- those who already have a disorder of some kind
- those who have an unhealthy lifestyle
- those who have a family history of high blood pressure
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What Is Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure is when the blood pressure is 90/60 or less when youâre resting. If you have low blood pressure, you may experience dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, nausea and general weakness. People who are older and have low blood pressure are at higher risk of injuring themselves by falling.Â;
How To Check Your Blood Pressure
The good news is that its easier than ever to check your blood pressure.
You may already have high blood pressure, in which case you will need to take action immediately.
There are a few different ways to do this: you can be tested by a doctor or nurse during a routine appointment either at your local GP practice or at some pharmacies.
You could also use a self-measurement machine that is available for use in some GP practices or you could order one to keep at homeso that you can check regularly in order to keep your mind at rest.
Of course, if you do find that you have hypertension, it is vital that you adopt a healthier lifestyle starting immediately. Contact our Healthy Lifestyles team for clear advice about how you can live a healthier life thats built around you, and your needs.
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Risks Are Low When It Comes To Lowering Blood Pressure
Clinicians have a tendency to be more cautious when it comes to treating hypertension in older adults, who are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions and are at increased risk for falls, Michos says. But recent research shows that fear is a bit unfounded.
A 2016 sub-analysis of SPRINT data revealed that intensive blood pressure control in adults 75 and older did not result in more injurious falls. It did, however, result in significantly lower rates of cardiovascular events and death.
Another finding that challenges a common concern when it comes to older adults: Aggressively treating blood pressure didn’t raise participants risk of experiencing orthostatic hypotension that feeling of dizziness when you go from sitting to standing because of a drop in blood pressure.
“That actually gets better when you treat blood pressure better, Michos says. And that might sound paradoxical, but it may be that once you just get better control of blood pressure in general, then some of the things that lead to orthostatic hypotension also get treated, she explains.
As far as other risks go, the final report from the SPRINT trial looked at additional safety measures of intensive blood pressure control and found that conditions like electrolyte abnormalities and acute kidney injury were more common in the intensive-treatment group. However, rates of serious adverse events overall did not differ significantly between the groups.
Who Is This Service For
All adults are at risk of high blood pressure. Many people don’t experience any symptoms, so a check-up is the only way to see if there is a problem.
Although all adults are at risk, people who fall into any of the below categories are at a higher risk of increased blood pressure:
- You’re older – more than 50% of people over the age of 60 have high blood pressure
- You have a family history of high blood pressure or heart disease
- You’re overweight and don’t do much exercise
- You’re of Asian or African-Caribbean descent
- You drink more than 2-3 units of alcohol a day for women, or 3-4 units for men
- Your diet includes a lot of salt – processed foods are often high in salt
- You don’t eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Our pharmacy team will be happy to discuss any blood pressure concerns you have.
The LloydsPharmacy Blood Pressure Check is not available to people who fall into the following categories:
- Those under 16
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How To Self Monitor
Home blood pressure monitoring is different than taking it at your doctor’s office because youll be comparing one relatively steady measurement to another over time. When scheduling checks, there are some factors to keep in mind so that you get more accurate results. Follow these tips if you are testing at home:
How Does My Circadian Rhythm Affect My Blood Pressure Medication
Michael Smolensky, adjunct professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Texas, Ausin, reports, â”The body doesn’t respond to medications in the same way at different times of the day. Some drugs are not as effective or as well tolerated if they’re taken at the wrong biological time. It’s not that they’re not effective at all, but they’re certainly much less effective.”Studies on chronotherapy have found that taking high blood pressure medications before bedtime help with the non-dipping issue. This reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke by normalizing your daily blood pressure rhythm. Specifically, it has been reported that drugs called ACE inhibitors and ARBs are the most effective when taken at bedtime.
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Why Does My Blood Pressure Vary Throughout The Day
You may have heard the term circadian rhythm. If so, you know this is not a beat to keep on the dance floor. It is a biological cycle your body follows. As defined by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, âCircadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment.â As your body cycles through this rhythm each day, responding to both internal and external stimuli, your blood pressure is affected.
The study of these important rhythms, known as chronobiology, was founded by Franz Halberg. His work in this field has helped identify abnormal rhythms in day-night blood pressure readings.Keeping the Beat of Blood PressureFollowing this chronobiological rhythm, your blood pressure is normally higher during the daytime and lower at night, during sleeping hours. Hereâs the problem. People with high blood pressure often donât experience this night time dip. This lack of a lowering of blood pressure at night is referred to as non-dipping.Whatâs the big deal? Heart attack and stroke have been found to be associated with non-dipping. Your blood pressure stays elevated, and your body is not in the relaxed state it should be during rest.
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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Understanding Your Blood Pressure Numbers
Blood pressure is reported with two numbers, one written over the other. The top number, systolic blood pressure, reflects the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart squeezes to pump blood. The bottom number, diastolic blood pressure, reflects the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes between heartbeats.
If You Get A High Blood Pressure Reading
- A single high reading is not an immediate cause for alarm. If you get a reading that is slightly or moderately higher than normal, take your blood pressure a few more times and consult your healthcare professional to verify if there s a health concern or whether there may be any issues with your monitor.
- If your blood pressure readings suddenly exceed 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes and test again. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your doctor immediately. You could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis.
- If your blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg and you are experiencing signs of possible organ damage such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision, difficulty speaking, do not wait to see if your pressure comes down on its own. Call 911.
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When Should I Check My Blood Pressure
A regular blood pressure check is the best way of monitoring blood pressure. You can request a blood pressure test from a GP or pharmacy, or take a reading at home using a blood pressure monitor.
If you have been diagnosed with high or low blood pressure, or have a higher risk of developing either it is advisable to check your blood pressure more frequently. It is recommended that adults over 40 should check their blood pressure at least every 5 years to detect any potential issues early.
This blood pressure checker is sourced from the NHS, all recommendations given by the blood pressure tool are supplied by the NHS website. Use the blood pressure checker as often as you wish.
What The Top And Bottom Numbers Measure
Systolic pressure:;The top number is a measurement of the force exerted by your heart each time it beats on the walls of your arteries.
Diastolic pressure:;The bottom number is a measurement of the force exerted by your heart between beats on the walls of your arteries.
mm Hg:;The letters that follow the systolic and diastolic numbers mm Hg stand for millimeters of mercury, which is how pressure is measured in medicine.
Rachel Nania writes about health care and health policy for AARP. Previously she was a reporter and editor for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. A recipient of a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she also participated in a dementia fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
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Apps To Track Blood Pressure
Although there are apps that promise to check your blood pressure without using equipment, this isnt an accurate or reliable method.
However, there are apps available that can help you track your blood pressure results. This can be helpful in identifying patterns in your blood pressure. Your doctor may use this information to determine if you require blood pressure medications.
Some examples of free blood pressure-monitoring apps include:
- Blood Pressure Monitor Family Litefor iPhone. You can enter your blood pressure, weight, and height, as well as track the medications you take.
- Blood Pressure for Android. This app tracks your blood pressure and features several statistical and graphical analysis tools.
- Blood Pressure Companion for iPhone. This app allows you to track your blood pressure as well as view graphs and trends on your blood pressure readings across several days or weeks.
These apps can help you quickly and easily track your blood pressure readings. Measuring your blood pressure regularly on the same arm can help you most accurately track your blood pressure readings.