Accuracy of manual vs. automatice BP monitors
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: Are manual Blood Pressure Monitors, the type that you pump up by hand, any more accurate than the automatic BP Monitors that have an electric pump? Is there a noticable difference in BP readings with these two types of BP monitors or do they have about the same accuracy?
A: Used correctly, both types of monitors give accurate blood pressure measurements. Automatic blood pressure monitors leave less room for user error. However the gold standard for blood pressure taking is the mercury sphygmomanometer, a manual device. To read the current national guideline for taking blood pressure measurements click here.
Tags: automatic blood pressure, blood pressure measurement, blood pressure measurements, Blood pressure monitor, blood pressure monitors, bp, bp monitors, gold standard, Measuring Your BP, mercury sphygmomanometer, national guideline, taking blood pressureCan yoga cure bp?
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: Can yoga cure high BP without taking medicine?
A: Regular exercise, such as yoga, can help control blood pressure. Depending on how high the blood pressure, drugs may also be needed. Neither a regular exercise program nor medication is a cure for high blood pressure. Once you stop either one, high blood pressure will return.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood pressure drugs, bp, control blood pressure, Diet & Exercise, exercise program, high blood pressure, hypertension, medication, taking medicine, yogaMental exertion and BP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: With diligence, I’ve been able to bring my blood pressure into the normal range but it spikes when I mentally exert myself and the rise is usually accompanied by a headache. Yesterday when the headache began, the monitor read a systolic pressure of 154, whereas the previous reading had been 126. What can I do to prevent this rise in blood pressure?
A: Your blood pressure does not appear to be in good control. I am not quite sure what you mean by “mental exertion”. Normal problem solving should not result in high blood pressure and a headache. Talk to your doctor.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, headache, high blood pressure, mental exertion, MiscSwelling with amlodipine
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 12 2010
Q: While taking Amlodipine, I have noted the side effect of swollen feet and lower eyelids. Is there something I can do to remedy this side effect? I am taking 5MG tablet daily as prescribed by my Doctor. My BP ranges between 117 and 128 in the evening but 130-140 in the morning when I wake up. I have also been using RESPeRATE device.
A: Talk to your doctor about your swelling. Sometimes it is better to change drugs than to try to treat a common side effect. Your doctor will know the next best step.
Tags: amlodipine, bp, drugs, hypertension, RESPeRATE, side effect, swollen feet, Taking BP MedsChanges in BP treatment recommendations
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 12 2010
Q: Quite a few years ago (about 25-30) blood pressure was considered normal at an approximation of your age plus 100; ie. you are 60 so your blood pressure would be approximately 160/80. When and why did they (WHO?) decide that the blood pressure of an 18 year old and a 60 year old should be identical?
A: Medical science does not stand still. We now know more about the relationship between blood pressure and the risk for heart attack and stroke. Current recommendations for treatment are based on The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). For more information about the government organization and medical scientists behind this report, click here.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, detection evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure, heart, heart attack, high blood pressure, hypertension, JNC7, joint national committee, Misc, stroke, treatment, treatment of high blood pressure, treatment recommendationsBlood pressure and heart rate explained
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 12 2010
Q: Is Systolic blood pressure the same as the heart rate that you read when you are on the treadmill? Is your pulse different from BP or HR? You say that normal blood pressure shouldn’t increase when doing normal activities. Doesn’t blood pressure go up when you are exercising, or carrying something heavy?
A: Systolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries that occurs with the contraction of your heart. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries between heart beats. With each heart beat blood is forced through your arteries creating pulsations. The number of pulsations that occur in a minute is your pulse. As this reflects your heart rate, the terms are somewhat interchangeable. Blood pressure increases with activity but should remain within the normal range.
Tags: arteries, blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, diastolic, diastolic pressure, heart, heart beat, Heart Health, heart rate, normal blood pressure, systolic, systolic blood pressure, systolic pressureDizziness from lisinopril-hctz
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 10 2010
Q: I have been taking BP meds for 6 days and it makes me feel dizzy and lightheaded. The doctor said my body needs to get used to it and sometimes it takes a while. Is this normal? I take lisinopril-hctz 10-12.5 MG, he told me to take half of this to see if that helped the problem.
A: It sounds like your blood pressure medicine is working. Dizziness, especially when you stand up suddenly, is a common side effect of blood pressure drugs. It also may mean your blood pressure has been lowered too much. This is why your doctor wants to see how you do on a lower dose.
Tags: blood pressure, blood pressure drug, blood pressure drugs, blood pressure medicine, bp, Dizziness, dizzy, hctz, hypertension, Lisinopril, medicine, side effect, Taking BP MedsLowering BP with weight loss
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: I am taking Norvasc (10mg), lisinopril / HCTZ (20/12.5mg); I also use Resperate for 20 min 4-5 times a week, and walk for 1 full hour 5 times a week. My current weight is 213lb, height is 5′10″, and BMI is 30.6. I have lost 53 pounds over the last year and increased my walking, yet my hypertension is still high. Is there a breakpoint, when my lower weight will bring down my blood pressure?
A: Congratulations on the weight loss. Keep on losing. Your BMI still isn’t in a healthy range. Even thin people can get high blood pressure. There is no magic weight where high blood pressure disappears.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bmi, bp, Diet & Exercise, hctz, health, high blood pressure, hypertension, Lisinopril, Norvasc, RESPeRATE, weight, weight lossNormal BP and age?
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: As one ages, I believe the arteries also age. As such, the norm of 120/80 may not be applicable to those in the 60-80 year range, otherwise these groups may be over-treated. Is there a table showing safe BP ranges for patients in the various age groups?
A: For all adults, 120/80 or less is considered normal blood pressure. Blood pressure at a level of 140/90 or more needs to be treated even if you are elderly. Not everyone can be safely treated to this level but lowering high blood pressure has been shown to be beneficial to even the very old. Charts are available showing average blood pressure based on age up to the mid 60’s. Click here.
Tags: age, arteries, average blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, elderly, Heart Health, high blood pressure, lowering high blood pressure, normal blood pressureHigh BP in the morning
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 12 2010
Q: Why is our BP consistently highest when we wake up in the morning? Are such high readings of systolic >160 mm and diastolic >100 mm an indicator one needs medical attention although BP at other times of day seem normal (or range near high normal)?
A: A morning blood pressure of 160/100 needs medical attention. Make an appointment to see your doctor. Blood pressure increasing in the morning is a natural biorhythm of the body. A significant number of people have a stroke or heart attack in the early morning because of this biorhythm.
Tags: biorhythm, blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, heart attack, hypertension, medical attention, morning blood pressure, stroke
