Buying medical equipment more complicated than a digital thermometer may make you a bit nervous. Many questions may come up at the thought of making that purchase. The biggest one is often, “Do I need it?” In these cases, you do.
Age: The older we get the greater our chances for high blood pressure. It’s a natural phenomenon, and one that should be watched carefully. Even if you don’t have the problem now, it is a silent disease and keeping records will help your doctor decide if it’s time for medications.
Exercise: Intense exercise will cause your blood pressure to go up temporarily. If you are overweight, out of shape or recuperating from an illness, it’s a good idea to watch it as you work out in order to prevent problems. Some heart rate monitors can do this, and vice versa.
Heart Disease: Even after you are finished with cardiac rehab, you will need to keep a constant eye on your BP numbers. Medicine your doctor prescribes for it could be too strong and your numbers could be too low. In other cases, it may still be too high. A good record can be very useful for your doctor.
Heredity: Even if you have no other risk factor, heredity is one to keep in mind. If your mother, father and/or grandparents have this problem, you are likely to as well. Start the practice of regular checks when you are young so it can be stopped before it does any damage.
High/Low Blood Pressure: If you’ve already been diagnosed with a problem in this area, your doctor will probably instruct you to purchase and/or use this device. This will alert the doctor to any changes in your numbers.
Medication: Some medications, including over the counter pain relievers, can make your numbers go up. If you are on them long term, the need for monitoring increases dramatically. Being OTC does not always mean safe for all.
Pain: This may surprise you, but pain does cause numbers to rise. If you think about it, it’s logical. Pain stresses the mind and the mind triggers a response that raises your numbers.
If you have any of these factors, talk to your doctor about whether or not you should acquire a kit. If he/she says yes, ask your pharmacist which to buy. I do recommend that you get a digital one, as they are both easier to use and to read.