Casio BP-1MY-1 BP-1MY-2, Monitoring Blood Pressure Levels on Your Own, What does low blood pressure indicate, When is the best time to take readings

BP-1MY-2

•Your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. Normally, it is at its highest shortly after you awake in the morning, and it reaches its lowest level some time while you are asleep. A fluctuation between maximum and minimum systolic blood pressure levels of about 20mmHg is considered normal.

Pressure		Blood Pressure Fluctuation
kPa mmHg
		During the Day (Example)
21.3	160
18.6	140
16.0	120
13.3	100

10.680

8.060

				Sleeping
5.3 40					Time
12	18	24	6	12

Bevan, Honour & Stott : Clin. Sci (1969)36,329-344

The above is upper arm blood pressure data.

•A rise in blood pressure can be caused by physical exercise, drinking coffee or tea, smoking, the need to urinate, and other factors.

•Blood pressure is also affected by your physical condition, as well as stress due to your emotional state, worry, etc.

•A blood pressure reading can also be affected by your posture when the reading is taken. Normally, your blood pressure will be lower if you are sitting instead of standing.

•Temperature and humidity can also affect blood pressure. Normally, winter blood pressure readings tend to be higher than summer readings.

Definitions and Classification of Blood Pressure Levels

Though the general rule of thumb for normal systolic (maximum value) blood pressure is your current age plus 90mmHg, this is not always necessarily true. The following chart shows some general guidelines for blood pressure values.

•The following tables show classifications for hypertension (high blood pressure) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society on Hypertension (ISH) (1999).

Diastolic Blood					Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Pressure (mmHg)			Up to 120		120 to 129	130 to 139	140 to 159	160 to 179	180 or
							140 to 149		greater
	Up to 80		Optimal
			(target)
	80 to 84		Normal
	85 to 89			High-Normal
		90 to 94			Subgroup: Borderline
	90 to 99				Grade 1 Hypertension (“mild”)
	100 to 109				Grade 2 Hypertension (“moderate”)
	110 or greater				Grade 3 Hypertension (“severe”)

Diastolic Blood				Systolic Blood Pressure (kPa)
Pressure (kPa)			Up to 16.0	16.0 to 17.217.3 to 18.5	18.6 to 21.2	21.3 to 23.8	24.0 or
					18.6 to 19.8		greater
	Up to 10.6		Optimal
			(target)
	10.6 to 11.2		Normal
	11.3 to 11.8		High-Normal
		12.0 to 12.5		Subgroup: Borderline
	12.0 to 13.2			Grade 1 Hypertension (“mild”)
	13.3 to 14.5			Grade 2 Hypertension (“moderate”)
	14.6 or greater			Grade 3 Hypertension (“severe”)

•When diastolic blood pressure is up to 90mmHg, systolic blood pressure greater than 140mmHg is classified as Isolated Systolic Hypertension, while systolic blood pressure within the range of 140 to 149mmHg is classified as Subgroup: Borderline Isolated Systolic Hypertension.

		Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)
		140 or greater
		140 to 149
Diastolic Blood	Up to 90	Borderline: Subgroup Isolated	Isolated Systolic
Pressure (mmHg)		Systolic Hypertension	Hypertension

Systolic Blood Pressure (kPa)

		18.6 or greater
		18.6 to 19.8
Diastolic Blood	Up to 12.0	Borderline: Subgroup Isolated	Isolated Systolic
Pressure (kPa)		Systolic Hypertension	Hypertension

Why is high blood pressure a cause for concern?

As its name implies, high blood pressure causes arteries to be exposed to high pressure, and can cause lesions in the arteries that supply blood to brain, heart, liver, and other vital organs. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to loss of heart function, hardening of the arteries, and a host of other problems like those described below.

•Aneurysms in the brain’s blood vessels, which can lead to stroke

•Enlargement of the heart, which can lead to heart failure

•Narrowing of blood vessels in the kidney, which can lead to kidney failure

•Premature hardening of the arteries throughout the body, especially those in the heart, brain, and kidneys, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure

What does low blood pressure indicate?

Some symptoms of low blood pressure are chronic fatigue, dizziness, shoulder stiffness, palpitation of the heart, and shortness of breath. Be sure to contact your physician if you suffer from any of these symptoms.

Monitoring Blood Pressure Levels on Your Own

When is the best time to take readings?

You should take readings during which you are most relaxed and stable. It is also important to take readings at the same times everyday, every morning, noon, and night, for example. Of course, you can also take readings at any other time you wish, but the important thing is to take blood pressure readings an integral part of your overall health control activities.

Be sure to keep records.

Your blood pressure will fluctuate with changes in your physical condition and even the weather. Because of this, you should keep a record that includes not only measured values, but also information about your physical condition and surrounding conditions. Try making it your goal to build an entire year of daily records.

•You can make copies of the “Blood Pressure Record” at the back of this manual and use them to keep track of changes in your blood pressure and pulse measurements.

Is there anything I should do before taking a reading?

First of all, try to relax. Take five or six deep, cleansing breaths. Also, note the following pointers.

Take readings in a quiet location.

Select a comfortable location that is free of loud noise and vibration, and is neither overly hot nor cold. A temperature of about 20°C is best.

Take readings while you are calm.

Avoid times when you are worried or otherwise emotionally upset, and after eating, exercise, or drinking coffee.

Maintain good posture during readings.

Keep your arm and wrist at about the same height as your heart. It is also important to be free if tension.

Take readings at the same time everyday.

Remember that blood pressure is constantly changing. Try to take your readings at the same time each day.