Because hypertension (high blood pressure) does not ordinarily have outward symptoms or warning signs, many people think they can judge whether they have blood pressure problems by how they feel. Not only is this wrong, it can, in fact, be a deadly way of monitoring blood pressure.
Blood pressure is the force of the blood against the artery walls. You run the risk of serious and life-threatening conditions, like heart disease or stroke, or kidney disease when your blood pressure is left unchecked and damages the artery walls or kidney overtime. It's not the high blood pressure that will eventually kill a person, it is the disease that develops as the result of the untreated hypertension.

When the force of the blood pushes against the wall of the artery, the measurement of the force against the artery wall is called blood pressure. If this continued force against the arteries is not detected in time and brought under control, the individual may suffer serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke or kidney disease - all of which may be fatal. Even blindness may be the result of uncontrolled high blood pressure. It is not the high blood pressure that can kill, or destroy the quality of life, it is the disease which develops as the result of uncontrolled hypertension.

1. The Blood Pressure Test Could Not Be Easier

A blood pressure test is the only way to determine whether you have hypertension and it is the only way to monitor blood pressure on a regular basis. The test is simple and can be completed either at home with a dependable and accurate blood pressure monitoring device or at a number of stores that make a monitoring device available to their customers. Generally, look for stores with pharmacies such as grocery stores, discount stores
and drug stores. If you are unsure how to use the device, there should be employees trained in its use. If you would like to purchase your own blood
pressure equipment, talk to your doctor or pharmacist and they can give you information on the products that are easy to use and give accurate results.

2. Tips For Increasing The Accuracy Of A Blood Pressure Test:

a. Waiting at least 30 minutes after smoking a cigarette or drinking a cup of coffee because these are factors that will temporarily elevate blood pressure.

b. Your blood pressure can elevate if you feel anxious about taking the test so sit quietly for five minutes beforehand. The back should be against the back of the chair with the feet flat on the floor and legs "uncrossed".

c. Table should be at heart level, rest your arm on the table.

d. Wearing short sleeves exposes the area for the test making it easier for the health care professional to take the test and may also increase the accuracy.

e. A full bladder can affect the measurement results, so use the restroom beforehand.

f. Take two readings at least two minutes apart. Write the numbers down, average them, record the average with date and time in a log book.

g. An electronic monitoring device is the simplest to use and gives the results in systolic and diastolic numbers.

3. Keeping Accurate Records Is Important:

Be sure to keep a blood pressure information log, when you are taking your blood pressure at home and if it is taken at the doctor's office, be sure to get the results in numbers. Make sure you keep an accurate log that includes the date, time the measurement was taken and the results. By keeping this information in a log, the doctor may be able to see a pattern in the blood pressure rising throughout the day.

4. Understanding The Blood Pressure Information From The Numbers:

The familiar mmHg is part of the blood pressure information you will get after the test. The mmHg stands for millimeters of mercury which indicates how the blood pressure was measured. The top number is the systolic pressure and it measures the force of the blood in the arteries as the heart beats. The lower number is the diastolic pressure, and it measures the force of the blood in the arteries as the heart relaxes between the beats.

For those of different age groups, the systolic and diastolic numbers are important for different reasons. As an example, those over the age of 50 should be concerned with the systolic or top number because it increases with age. Those under the age of 55 might be more concerned with the lower number, which is the diastolic number because it increases until around 55 years of age and then it usually declines.

The systolic and diastolic numbers are divided into levels that are understandable for the individual:

* Normal is considered less than 120/80.

* Pre-hypertension is defined as 120/80-139/89.

* High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as 140/90 or higher.

The medical profession does not believe high blood pressure can be cured (only controlled) so once diagnosed, the diagnosis lasts a lifetime.

Most people look forward to having a good life. If blood pressure is a problem, then steps must be taken to either prevent it from elevating into the Stage 1 level or control it if it already has with lifestyle changes and other interventions.