5
Why Should I Monitor My Blood Pressure At Home?
By monitoring at home, you can manage your health in between
doctor visits. Home monitoring also provides you with a record of
blood pressure measurements over time to give to your doctor - a
valuable tool in hypertensives’ monitoring.
Home monitoring may also help alleviate White Coat
Hypertension. This term refers to the medical phenomena which
causes many individuals’ blood pressure to be higher when taken
in a medical office setting. That’s because many times the stress
of being in the doctor’s office may cause blood pressure to rise
as much as 20-50 points higher than normal. When monitoring
at home, you may get a truer indication of your blood pressure
in a normal, relaxed state.
What Is Blood Pressure?
The commonly used term “blood pressure” refers to the
force or pressure that is exerted on the body’s arteries
as blood flows through them. Each time the heart
beats or contracts, it produces pressure in the
arteries. This blood pressure is what moves
blood through the body, supplying oxygen
and nutrients to every organ. (con’t)
Commonly Asked Questions About Blood Pressure
Commonly Asked Questions
About Blood Pressure
4Healthy Living
STAY POSITIVEA healthy mind goes hand in hand with
a healthy body. Daily relaxation techniques such as meditation
and gentle yoga may be just what you need to alleviate unwanted
stress from your life. Keep your mind focused on the positive things
in life. Start out by giving yourself credit for those short walks or
that apple you just ate. It’s your first step.
WATCH YOUR WEIGHT! Sometimes, just a
small amount of weight loss is all it takes to help control high
blood pressure. If you’ve already started eating healthy and
staying active, your weight just might take care of itself!
Remember to consult your physician prior to beginning an exer-
cise program, vitamin/mineral, dietary changes or programs and
blood pressure monitoring.
Healthy Living