High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a very common condition, affecting almost 25 percent of all Americans. It can be a factor in such serious health concerns as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. There are usually no symptoms or warning signs.

Your blood pressure is one of the things that are always checked when you visit a doctor, but if you find that you have a problem, monitoring your blood pressure between visits may be recommended. There are two numbers in a reading. The amount of pressure the blood puts on an artery as the heart constricts and blood rushes through is the systolic pressure. When the heart relaxes, the pressure at ebb is called the diastolic pressure.

How to Measure Your Blood Pressure

There are two basic kinds of machines available for measuring blood pressure at home. The completely manual method uses an aneroid monitor. This machine has an inflatable rubber cuff that is inflated and deflated by use of a squeezable rubber bulb with a release valve. The cuff is quickly inflated to constrict the flow of blood, then slowly deflated while the user listens with a stethoscope to hear blood flowing through the artery. The point at which the sound begins is the systolic pressure, and the point where it stops is the diastolic pressure. The numbers are indicated by a pointer on a dial.

Digital monitors, though more expensive, are considerably easier to use. The cuff can be inflated manually with a squeeze bulb or automatically, but in either case deflation at the proper rate is automatic. There is no need to listen for heart sounds. Systolic and diastolic pressure are displayed on a screen.

Proper preparation is extremely important, no matter what kind of monitor you are using. You should sit comfortably and quietly for three to five minutes with your back supported and your feet flat on the floor. Your arm should be resting on a surface that is at approximately the same level as your heart. The cuff should be wrapped around your arm with the lower edge at least an inch above the crook of your elbow.

Choosing and Caring for Your Blood Pressure Monitor

Whichever kind of monitor you choose, it is important that you select the proper size cuff for your arm. If your arm is larger or smaller than average, the standard size cuff will give you an inaccurate reading. Measure the circumference of your arm. If it measures 7-9 inches, you'll need a small cuff. If it measures 9-13 inches, a standard cuff will fit. If it is over 13 inches, you need a large cuff.

The primary advantage of the aneroid monitor is lower cost. However, it requires the user to deflate the pressure cuff at the proper rate to ensure an accurate reading, and those who have hearing loss may not be able to detect heart sounds. A manually inflated digital monitor solves those problems, but it may be difficult for persons with arthritis to use the squeeze pump. Fully automatic digital monitors can be most easily used by anyone, but are more expensive.

When you first purchase your monitor, take it to your health care provider to have the calibration checked. Check it annually from then on. Store your monitor away from heat, and be sure that the tubing is not twisted. Check the tubing regularly for signs of wear or cracking.