Introduction, Basics of Blood Pressure

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Panasonic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor EW3003.

Measuring your own blood pressure is an important way of monitoring your health. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major health problem which can be treated effectively once detected. Measuring your blood pressure between doctor visits on a regular basis in the comfort of your home, and keeping a record of the measurements, will help you monitor any significant changes in your blood pressure. Keeping an accurate record of your blood pressure will help your doctor diagnose and possibly prevent any health problems in the future.

Basics of Blood Pressure

Your heart acts like a pump, sending blood surging through your blood vessels each time it contracts. Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by blood pumped from the heart on the walls of blood vessels. Systolic pressure is the pressure exerted when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. Diastolic pressure is the pressure exerted when the heart expands, or relaxes. When you or your doctor take your blood pressure, both your systolic and diastolic pressures are measured. If your blood pressure measurement is 120 over 80 (120/80), for example, your systolic pressure is 120 while your diastolic pressure is 80.

Important Instructions Before Use

1.Do not confuse self-monitoring with self-diagnosis. Blood pressure measurements should only be interpreted by a health professional who is familiar with your medical history.

2.If you are taking medication, consult with your physician to determine the most appropriate time to measure your blood pressure. NEVER change a prescribed medication without first consulting with your physician.

3.For persons with irregular or unstable circulation resulting from diabetes, liver disease, arteriosclerosis or other medical conditions, there may be variations in blood pressure values measured at the wrist versus at the upper arm. Monitoring the trends in your blood pressure taken at either the arm or the wrist is nevertheless useful and important.

4.Blood pressure can vary based on many factors, including age, gender, weight and physical condition. In general, a person’s blood pressure is lower during sleep and higher when he or she is active. Blood pressure can change easily in response to physiological changes. The setting in which a person’s blood pressure is measured can also affect the results. Having one’s blood pressure measured by a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic can cause nervousness and may result in a temporarily elevated reading. Because blood pressure measurements taken in a clinical setting can vary considerably from those taken at home, a person’s blood pressure should be measured not only occasionally in the doctor’s office, but also on a regular basis at home. Also, if you find that your blood pressure is lower at home, this is not unusual. To accurately compare with your physician’s reading, take your Panasonic blood pressure monitor to your doctor’s office and compare readings in this setting.

5.People suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, vascular constriction, liver disorders or diabetes, people with cardiac pacemakers or a weak pulse, and women who are pregnant should consult their physician before measuring their blood pressure themselves. Different values may be obtained due to their condition.

6.Try to take your blood pressure measurements at the same time and under the same conditions every day.

•The ideal time to measure your blood pressure (to obtain your so-called “base blood pressure”) is in the morning just after waking up, before having breakfast and before any major activity or exercise. If this is not possible, however, try to take measurements at a specified time prior to breakfast, and before you have become active. You should relax for