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High blood pressure diagnosis: The safe and effective way
 High
Blood Pressure Diagnosis Overview:
A high blood
pressure diagnosis can only be made by measuring your blood pressure,
which is a safe, simple and painless procedure. In order to measure
your blood pressure, the health care practitioner will place an
inflatable cuff around your arm just above your elbow. Your arm is
then elevated at about the level of your heart by a table or desk
during the procedure. The health practitioner will than put a
stethoscope underneath the edge of the cuff in order to listen. The
cuff is inflated squeezing the main artery in the upper arm, which
then temporarily stops the blood flow. The cuff is then deflated
slowly and steadily. The doctor or health care practitioner will then
note the blood pressure twice: (1) when the blood first begins to flow
through the artery and you can hear the heartbeat, which is referred
to as systolic pressure and (2)
when the blood flow then becomes continuous and the heartbeat sounds
can no longer be heard, which is referred to as the diastolic pressure. This
measurement of blood pressure is essential to a high blood pressure
diagnosis.
Measurements of
blood pressure are usually done on several occasions to make sure that
it is consistently high. At the very beginning, it is usually
measured in both arms as there is frequently a difference between the
two. The higher measurement of the two is usually used to determine
whether treatment is necessary. Measurements should usually be made
after person has had a chance to sit quietly for at least several
minutes.
Sometimes, your
practitioner may recommend measuring blood pressure at home. This
will allow you to measure your blood pressure several times a day at
different times such as in the morning and evening. However, blood
pressure measurements at home are meant to supplement measurements of
blood pressure at your doctor's office rather than as a replacement.
Home measurements are also helpful for making a high blood pressure
diagnosis in that a person's blood pressure may be taken under a
variety of conditions. This is especially helpful for the doctor in
making the high blood pressure diagnosis, but also will be very
helpful in determining the best treatment for the person.
Some home devices
for measuring blood pressure are digital and do not require a
stethoscope. The measurements are made and automatically displayed on
a screen immediately. These digital devices are also very helpful for
people who live alone at home
or individuals with problems hearing.
These home
measuring devices really enhance the practitioner in the high blood
pressure diagnosis and treatment process. They are usually accurate.
However, in order to continue to provide accurate information to
assist your physician with the diagnosis and treatment of high blood
pressure, you should not use measurements made on either a finger or
wrist.
Some information
from The Merck Manual of Health of Aging
Additional
information and web page by
Paul Susic M.A. Licensed Psychologist
Ph.D. Candidate (Health Psychology)
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