Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the walls of blood vessels as blood flows through the blood vessels when it is transported to various parts of the body. When the heart contracts, blood pressure is at its highest, called systolic blood pressure. When the heart relaxes, blood pressure is higher, called diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure values change at any time, and are susceptible to fluctuations due to a variety of factors. For example, ambient temperature, mood changes, exercise, taking medicine, and even taking a bath or defecation can all raise blood pressure. Therefore, only by grasping the details and standardizing the operation can we accurately understand the changes in blood pressure. When measuring blood pressure, the point is not to measure frequently, but to measure accurately.
There are two ways to measure blood pressure. The first type is the Korotkoff auscultation method, which was invented by the Soviet doctor Kolotkov in 1905. The principle is that when the artery is not completely compressed, sound will appear, and when it is completely compressed, it will not produce any sound. Blood pressure values can be obtained by auscultation and observing the index changes of the mercury sphygmomanometer. The second category is the oscillometric method. The principle is to detect the pressure fluctuations during arterial systole and diastole through sensors. Due to the complicated operation of mercury sphygmomanometers and the health effects of mercury pollution, such sphygmomanometers have been gradually phased out. The current home blood pressure measurement tools are mainly electronic blood pressure monitors that apply the principle of oscillometric method.
The electronic sphygmomanometer looks high-end and elegant, but the quality of the product varies. Therefore, whether or not the blood pressure can be measured depends first on the reliability of the equipment. If possible, it is best to carry your own electronic sphygmomanometer for comparison and calibration with the mercury sphygmomanometer. If the deviation of the measured value exceeds 5mmHg, it is necessary to consider whether there is an abnormality in the function of the sensor. If you don’t have the conditions, you can find a few neighbors, bring their own voltmeters, and compare the measurement results. Also, note that when the battery is depleted and the voltage is low, blood pressure measurements can also be affected.
Blood pressure measurement, divided into 3 types. The first type is office blood pressure, which is the blood pressure value measured by medical staff in medical institutions. Due to factors such as environmental stimuli or emotional stress, errors may occur, which is called white coat hypertension. Therefore, if the blood pressure in the office is too high, especially when it does not match the blood pressure at home, it should be re-examined once every 1 to 2 weeks, and the blood pressure measured three times in a row should be higher than the normal value to diagnose hypertension. If the blood pressure is only occasionally measured during the physical examination, and the blood pressure value is only slightly out of the standard range, don’t be too nervous, you should review it when you are calm, and combine physical symptoms and other test results to confirm the diagnosis.
The second type of blood pressure measurement is ambulatory blood pressure. The medical staff installs and wears a dynamic voltage measurement device according to the specifications. It measures once every 15 to 30 minutes during the day and every other day at night. 30 to 60 minutes, 1 measurement. The purpose of this blood pressure measurement is to understand parameters such as morning peak blood pressure, short-term blood pressure variability, and blood pressure circadian rhythm, and to assist in evaluating the effect of antihypertensive therapy. The third type is home blood pressure, which mainly reflects the blood pressure level in a awake daily life. It is usually recommended to use an upper arm electronic sphygmomanometer for measurement. If conditions permit, it is best to choose a device with data storage function.
Home blood pressure measurement can effectively identify white coat hypertension, masked hypertension and refractory hypertension. Home blood pressure measurement, for undiagnosed or unstable blood pressure, should be measured continuously for 7 days, the daily blood pressure value should be recorded, and the average blood pressure of the next 6 days should be calculated. Blood pressure needs to be measured in 2 time periods every day, between 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning, and between 18:00 and 21:00 in the evening, each time period, measure 2 to 3 times, and calculate the average value, if the difference between the two measured values exceeds 5mmHg, should be tested again. People with stable blood pressure only need to measure 1 to 2 times a week. If it is refractory hypertension, or the drug treatment regimen needs to be adjusted, the blood pressure value should be measured continuously for 2 weeks. Ordinary people, if they belong to a high-risk group of hypertension, for example, have a family history of hypertension, obesity, long-term smoking or drinking and other bad habits, they should measure their blood pressure every 3 to 6 months. If there are no high-risk factors and no symptoms of abnormal blood pressure such as dizziness and headache, frequent blood pressure measurement is not required.
Accurate blood pressure measurement requires standardized operation and attention to detail. You should choose a table and chair with a suitable height, 30 minutes before the measurement, do not smoke, drink tea, drink coffee, urinate first, rest for 5 minutes, and then start the measurement. When measuring, keep your legs flat and your upper arms on the table, keep quiet, and don’t speak. The cuff should be at the same level as the heart, the lower edge of the cuff should be 2 to 3 cm from the elbow line, and it should be tight enough to allow 1 to 2 fingers to be inserted. Interval 1 minute, measure 1 time, continuously measure 2 to 3 times, calculate the average value of the last 2 times, and record it. When the indoor temperature is suitable, if the shirt is thin, you may not take off your clothes when measuring the blood pressure, but don’t pull up the scorpion. If the clothes are thicker, take off the coat and measure again.
To whomever you love, pass on your health.