| It is not very difficult to take your own blood | | | | facing you. |
| pressure. In fact, the kind of equipment that we | | | | Relax Your Arms |
| have these days has made things much simpler. | | | | Your arm must be in a relaxed position. |
| Heart diseases are very common in the United | | | | Otherwise, you will not be able to take accurate |
| States of America. It is quite unfortunate but a | | | | results. Now, put the stethoscope bell at the point |
| fact that over 4.5 million people die due to | | | | where the arm bends (the middle of your arm). |
| cardiovascular disease every year in America only. | | | | Start Pumping Up The BP Cuff |
| Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for | | | | Now, you can start pumping up the BP cuff in |
| such diseases. But, most people realize that they | | | | order to take your own blood pressure. Keep |
| are suffering from hypertension only when it | | | | pumping till it reaches 180. However, before you |
| causes a serious health problem. That is the | | | | start pumping, make sure that the valve is tightly |
| reason why high blood pressure is often referred | | | | closed on the cuff. |
| to as a silent killer. The only way to diagnose such | | | | Listen For The Thumps |
| problems is to take regular BP measurements, at | | | | Stop pumping and watch the needle on the gauge. |
| least on a weekly or monthly basis. However, you | | | | The systolic pressure or the top number is the |
| don't necessarily have to visit a doctor's clinic in | | | | point of the needle where you hear the first big |
| order to get your BP checked up. You can do it | | | | thump through the earpieces of the stethoscope. |
| yourself, right at your home. Here's how. | | | | Likewise, the diastolic pressure or the bottom |
| Wrap The Bp Cuff Around Your Arm | | | | number is the point of the needle where you |
| In order to take your own blood pressure, you | | | | listen to the last little thump. The sound of |
| will need an Aneroid Sphygmomanometer (BP | | | | thumping will keep reducing until it is almost silent - |
| cuff) and a stethoscope. The first step is to wrap | | | | that's the last little thump. |
| the BP cuff around your arm, a little above the | | | | You can now release the pressure on the cuff. |
| elbow joint. | | | | Note it down on a piece of paper so that you |
| Wear The Stethoscope | | | | could discuss the same with your doctor. Thus, |
| Get the stethoscope and place it in your ears. In | | | | you can see that you can easily take your own |
| order to ensure that you hear the sounds clearly, | | | | blood pressure if you follow the above simple |
| you must wear the stethoscope in a way that | | | | steps thoroughly. |
| the earpieces should make an upside down V | | | | |