Sunbeam 7620 - Manual (Page 11)

More About Blood Pressure Measurements
What is Blood Pressure?
The blood pressure will reach its highest levels in the large arteries
near the heart and drop off toward the peripheral areas of the cir-
culatory system.
The blood pressure varies in accordance with the beating of the
heart, and when the heart contracts, squeezing the blood out, the
pressure inside the blood vessels is said to be systolic, and when the
heart expands, sucking the blood back in, the pressure of the blood
inside the blood vessels is said to be diastolic.
Hypertension, which is most common among adults and the old, if
left unattended, can cause many health problems including stroke,
heart attack, etc. It is therefore necessary to control the blood
pressure to prevent it from becoming high, by reducing salt, dietary
regimens, and by controlling thesubject’s activities. Even people who
are born with high blood pressure can prevent the progress of high
blood pressure by means of adequate control.
Why Is It a Good Thing to Measure
Blood Pressure at Home?
Having one’s blood pressure measured by a doctor in a hospital or a
clinic, and group health checks, tend to stimulate nervousness
in the
subject and may even create sufferers of high blood pressure. Also
blood pressures varies in accordance with a variety of conditions, and
so judgement is not possible on the basis of a single measurement.
The blood pressure measured first thing in the morning after get-
ting up, before taking any food, and with the subject still, is known as
the fundamental blood pressure. In practice it is rather difficult to
record the fundamental blood pressure, but to come as near as possi-
ble to measuring the blood pressure in an environment that is close
to this, it is useful to be able to take the measurement
at home.
Further, you could carry out your own blood pressure control with
your own blood pressure monitor at home to take blood pressure
readings on a regular basis.
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