Why Is Monitoring Of Blood Pressure Important?

Blood Pressure

It was a very important day for Anuj. He had a final round of interview with the CEO of a multinational company. With confidence tied up to his sleeves, he left the house saying goodbye to his wife and children. After reaching the interview venue, he sat outside in the reception area, waiting for someone to call him inside. With time, he started feeling bit nervous and stressed. But this was not the end. He felt a sharp pain in his head and a flush of anxiety ran through him. He thought it to be normal because of the tensed situation he was in. But he was wrong. After some time, he felt a heavy pound on his chest, little breathlessness and started sweating.

With a heavy force, he sat on the chair and drank a glass of water. After becoming a bit normal, he completed his interview and immediately rushed to a nearby hospital to consult a doctor. His doctor asked him to get his blood pressure checked, to which he said that he does not need as his blood pressure is quite normal. With the doctor’s urge,  he got his blood pressure checked and was shocked to know that he has entered in the zone of Hypertension.

To this, his doctor stressed how important it is to get your blood pressure checked regularly to avoid any fatal situations.

According to Dr. Satish Koul, Director & HOD, Department of Internal Medicine & Diabetes, W Pratiksha Hospital, anyone who is overweight, have issues of blood pressure in their family, or having any kind of disease such as diabetes should get their blood pressure monitored after the age of 30. Pregnant women also need to monitor their blood pressure regularly.

While it’s considered perfectly normal to have a spike in the blood pressure while and shortly after running or doing any kind of heavy physical activity, but high blood pressure after the heart rate and the body has returned to normal resting state is something to worry about.

So, what are you waiting for? If you do not want such a risky moment in your life, get your blood pressure checked right today.

Let us dive into the importance of having your blood pressure measured regularly.

1. Tells you if you have hypertension 

Regular monitoring is effective in not only diagnosing hypertension but also to find out symptoms that mimic hypertension. Keeping a check on your blood pressure will also help rule out external factors that might lead to a rise in your blood pressure including work tension, mood swings, and even personal complications.

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2. Gives a sneak-peek to other complications

a) Heart disease

Increase blood pressure will increase the workload of the heart which in turn reduces the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to the different organs eventually leading to heart failure. Sounds scary, isn’t it? Don’t delay and get your BP checked regularly.

b) Stroke

The rise in blood pressure weakens the small vessels in the brain causing them to rupture. When this happens part of your brain will no longer get the blood and oxygen that it needs and since brain controls your body movement, it can threaten your ability to move, function and think.

c) Your Kidneys are at risk

You might be unknowingly suffering from high blood pressure and if you have never got it checked then it is the time as even your kidneys are not spared. High blood pressure damages the small vessels in your kidney and reduces the blood supply to it. As a result, your kidney will start losing its normal functions and eventually kidney failure.

d) Struggling between the sheets? 

Are you fighting the battle of sexual dysfunction? Yes, then you should better get your blood pressure checked. So what is the connection between high blood pressure and sexual dysfunction?

In case of men: If you have a high blood pressure, the arteries supplying blood to the penis gets narrowed leading to the reduced blood supply to the penis. As a result of which you will face an inability to maintain an erection while having intercourse.

In case of women: High blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the vagina which may lead to decreased sexual desire, dryness of vagina, etc.

e) Are you burning the midnight lamp? 

Sleep plays an instrumental role in maintaining your health. But the sad news is that high blood pressure and sleep are interrelated. So if you are suffering from disturbed sleep (in medical terms known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea) then its time to get your blood pressure checked as it might be because of your high blood pressure.

f) Having fragile bone?

Yes? Then you must be aware that hypertension also leads to calcium elimination from the body which is a major reason for the bone loss, especially in elder women.

g) Pregnant?? Get yourself checked for blood pressure 

If you are planning to get pregnant, it is advisable to get yourself checked regularly for high BP as a rise in blood pressure during pregnancy can cause reduced blood flow to the placenta depriving the oxygen and nutrient supply to the growing baby. This can lead to the low birth weight of your baby.

3) Helps administer emergency treatments  

Since high blood pressure creates different complications like heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes etc., regular monitoring will help you identify potential emergency situations. For e.g., if you are having general hypertension, you need to regulate your blood pressure at 140/90 mmHg and in case of diabetes or kidney failure you need to control the levels at 130/80 mmHg. If your pressure shoots above 180/140mmHg you need immediate treatment to avoid any fatal complications.

4) Helps you maintain your health diary 

Since checking blood pressure helps you diagnose any kind of health complications that you might be facing, it also will help you and your doctor note down your symptoms and provide valuable information regarding treatment outcomes. This practice will also help your doctor to adjust your drug and dosage as needed and also to avoid any future complications. 

Important points to remember:

– Maintain a log-book to record your test results. The normal blood pressure of a person should regulate between 120-140mmHg (Systolic or the top number) and 80-90mmHg (Diastolic or the bottom number).

– It is best to take 3 readings, each about 2 minutes apart and then take an average of the readings for more accurate results.

– The test can also be performed at the same time on consecutive days

– If you find abnormal readings across 4-5 tests, consult your doctor.

Hypertension is indeed a chronic disease and with little effort from your side, you can win against this disease. Take care!

Recommended Reads:

How To Choose The Right Blood Pressure Monitor?

Aspirin – A Wonder Pill to Prevent Heart Disease

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