A mobile with a touch screen, the latest iPod or a branded watch – we love such gadgets. An intelligent man among his favorite toys must also have …. pressure gauge.
Its price ranges from PLN 50 to PLN 300, it may have a modern design and innovative solutions, but most importantly it saves lives. This is why you should buy a blood pressure monitor.
Hypertension
We usually find out that we have arterial hypertension in the cardiology department where we end up with a heart attack. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the world. Meanwhile, most people do not know their blood pressure and do not know its normal value. You cannot provoke fate in this way. It only takes a few minutes to find out if high blood pressure is also our problem. Professor Zbigniew Gaciong, head of the Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Hypertension and Angiology of the Medical University of Warsaw, cites the WHO report that hypertension is the number one factor contributing to premature death. It is more dangerous than smoking, poor nutrition and lack of exercise. – Knowing the value of your own pressure allows you to prevent a tragedy – says the professor.
Electronic blood pressure monitor
Many types of blood pressure monitors are available in pharmacies and medical stores. The device with an electronic display of measurement results is the most convenient. In addition to pressure, it also measures the pulse and remembers the last values. The shoulder braces are more accurate than the wrist braces. Along with the purchase of a blood pressure monitor, it is good to buy a pressure measurement diary, in which, as in a diary, we will record the time of measurement and its result.
Pressure Measurement
When measuring the pressure in the room in which we are staying, it must be quiet. You have to turn off the TV. We never measure blood pressure by talking to someone. The measurement can be taken at any time of the day. It’s best to sit down first, wait five or ten minutes quietly and then start measuring the pressure. We put the cuff over the bend of the elbow. The hand must rest on a suitable support so that it is slightly bent, the back rests on the chair. The cuff must be tightly closed. We should take two measurements at intervals of about 5 minutes.
Treatment of hypertension
Blood pressure is the force with which the blood presses against the vessel wall. Too high poses a risk of damaging the vessels. – We talk about overpressure when it is at least 140 by 90 mm of the Hg column – says Prof. Gaciong. The most common causes of higher blood pressure are overweight, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, and a poor diet – especially eating too much salt.
– Hypertension can and must be treated – says prof. Gaciong. – We have extensive experience based on several dozen years of observation. People who undergo treatment in accordance with the recommendations reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, as well as diseases such as chronic kidney disease leading to kidney failure. Treatment extends life and these are disease-free years.
Text: Halina Pilonis