Monitoring your blood pressure at home gives you the flexability to take your measurements at various times duing the day. This can help provide your healthcare professional with a log of blood pressure measurements over time. This can help them to evaluate the effectiveness of medications or the need for medication. Many factors can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations, medications and stress.

By monitoring your blood pressure at home you can help to determine if you have;

White-Coat Hypertension: blood pressure reading is high in doctor's office but lower at home

Masked Hypertension: blood pressure reading is low in doctor's office but higher at home

Morning Hypertension: blood pressure reading is higher in the morning

What Is High Blood Pressure?

High Blood Pressure is a pressure of 140 systolic or higher and/or 90 diastolic or higher that stays high over time. High Blood Pressure is known as the silent killer. About 50 Million Americans have it and 1 in 4 adults have it, and many do not know they have it. Because High Blood Pressure usually does not have any symptoms, it is important to monitor your blood pressure.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the arteries. Your heart is like a pump. When it contracts, or beats, it sends a surge of blood through the blood vessels and pressure increases. This is called your systolic pressure. When your heart relaxes between beats, your blood pressure decreases. This is called your diastolic pressure. These two numbers provide important information about your health. When blood pressure is consistently above normal it is called hypertension (high blood pressure).

What are the standard Blood Pressure Classifications?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) jointly developed the following blood pressure classification. This classification, however, this is only a general guideline because your optimum blood pressure depends on your age, morbidity, and treatment strategy by a physician. Consult your physician to determine your optimum blood pressure.

2) Put your arm through the cuff loop. The bottom of the cuff should be approximately 1/2'' above the elbow. The Green Marker on the cuff should lie over the brachial artery on the inside of the arm. Tube should run down center of arm approximately even with middle finger.

3) Pull the cuff so that the top and bottom edges are tighened evenly around your arm.

4) When the cuff is positioned correctly, press the sewn hook material FIRMLY against the pile side of the cuff.

5) Make certain the cuff fits snugly around your arm. The cuff should make good contact with your skin. You should be able to fit one finger between the cuff and your arm.

6) Relax your arm and turn your palm upward.

Be sure there are no kinks in the air tubing.

7) Press the ON/OFF button.

When the monitor is ready to measure you will see a 0 on the display.

8) Press the START button and remain still.

Inflation stops automatically and measurement is started.

When the measurement is complete, the arm cuff deflates and your blood pressure and pulse rate are displayed.

9) Press the ON/OFF button to turn the monitor off.

Blood Pressure is written as two numbers. The top number, or systolic, is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom number, or diastolic, is the pressure when the heart rests between beats. Example; 120/80 is a reading for Normal Blood Pressure.

Who is at risk for High Blood Pressure?

• People who have close blood relatives who have High Blood Pressure
• African Americans
• People over age 35
• Overweight People
• People who are not physically active
• People who use too much salt
• People who drink too much alcohol
• People with Diabetes, Gout and Kidney Disease
• Pregnant women
• Women who take birth control pills, who are overweight, had HBP during pregnancy, have a family history of HBP or have mild kidney disease

What can happen if High Blood Pressure goes untreated?

High Blood Pressure if left untreated can lead to;

• Stroke
• Heart Attach
• Heart Failure
• Kidney Failure

Why use a Heart Rate Monitor?

Although a Heart Rate Monitor is not considered to be a piece of medical equipment, a Heart Rate Monitor is used to monitor a person's heart rate when exercising, walking, etc.

The Heart Rate Monitor can help you receive the maximum benefit from your exercise program. It helps you to avoid muscle strain caused from working out too hard. It is important to know your maximum heart rate training zone, upper heart rate limit and lower heart rate limit before you begin. Knowing this will help you achieve the maximum health benefits out of your workout.

Consult with your physician or healthcare provider to help you determine your maximum heart rate, upper and lower limits, the exercise frequency and duration appropriate for you and your specific goals.

*Warning -- The Omron HR-100CN Heart Rate Monitor is not a medical device and is not intended to monitor health concerns. The signals used by this monitor may interfere with a pacemaker or other implanted dev ices. Consult the manufacturer of the implanted device and your physician before using this monitor.

Which type of Omron Blood Pressure Monitor should I purchase?