Maybe you know that you have high blood pressure or your physician has asked you to monitor your blood pressure at home, but do you trust yourself or the machine to do this correctly?
You may ask yourself, "Do I have the best blood pressure cuff?" Or, "Am I doing this right?"
You are not alone. Blood pressure cuffs are not all alike and they come in different sizes. They might be digital or manual. What if the batteries need to be changed, will you get an accurate reading? And of course, we all feel silly when we put the cuff on upside down!
Before your blood pressure reading, do not drink or eat for 30 minutes prior. Be sure to have an empty bladder too.
When you take your blood pressure measurement, your feet need to be flat on the ground and it is best if you have been sitting for 5-10 minutes before you check it. You need the cuff against skin instead of clothing and it needs to be snug but not painful. Avoid any talking during the measurement as well.
If you are interested in finding the answers to common blood pressure measurement questions, come to BBHCC's FREE Blood Pressure Clinic on June 14th from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at the Bucksport Senior Center.
We will have students and instructors available to answer questions and show you how to take an accurate measurement. If you do not have a cuff, that is no problem. We can take your blood pressure and also provide information about special
dietary practices designed to maintain or lower blood pressure.
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