According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure – and many of us may not even realize we have it. The condition, which can contribute to strokes, heart attacks and other health problems, often has no noticeable symptoms. This makes taking your blood pressure an important tool in monitoring your overall health.

To make sure you are taking your blood pressure correctly, Aultman’s Health Care in Your Home team shared the following tips:

• Blood pressure can vary throughout the day depending on your intake, activity, stress, time of day and other factors. Try to develop a routine time to check your blood pressure.
• Before measuring blood pressure, you should sit and relax for 5 – 10 minutes.
• When you are ready to take your blood pressure, sit upright with your feet resting flat on the floor.
• Remain quiet during the process of measuring your blood pressure.
• To obtain the best reading, the cuff should be placed approximately 1 inch above the inside elbow area with the tube positioned in the middle of your arm. Keep your arm at the level of your heart.
• Following the instructions for your monitor, press the button that inflates the cuff. It will tighten on your upper arm. Then, the pressure in the cuff will slowly decrease. Your blood pressure and pulse readings will be displayed on the screen.
• You should keep a log of your readings and familiarize yourself with healthy and unhealthy blood pressure ranges.

If you would like to discuss your blood pressure and heart health further, schedule an appointment with one of Aultman’s primary care physicians.

Submitted by: Corporate Communications