You may have been advised by your GP to take your blood pressure regularly. Your local Blooms The Chemist can help you measure your blood pressure with a free, quick and easy test. If you’re unable to get to your local pharmacy, you may wish to consider purchasing an at home blood pressure monitor.

What Is Blood Pressure

When the heart pumps blood through the arteries, the blood puts pressure on the artery walls. Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure of the blood in the artery. Blood pressure that is high over a long time is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

High blood pressure has virtually no symptoms. The absence of symptoms can be problematic as you can feel and appear to be in good health, and yet this can be an underlying issue causing damage to your blood vessels, heart, brain and other important organs.

Checking your blood pressure regularly ensures you can monitor for changes and take action to manage high blood pressure should it occur. You can reduce your chances of having high blood pressure by learning to keep it under control through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.

Taking Your Blood Pressure At Home

Blood pressure should be taken when you are at rest. It is best to find a comfortable spot that is free from any distractions where you can sit and relax for five minutes before you take a reading. The Heart Foundation recommendation is to record your blood pressure at least twice each time, one minute apart, and to take measurements under the same conditions and same time each day where possible. If you’ve been advised to take standing blood pressure readings, you should wait at least two minutes between readings.

To use a blood pressure monitor, you will fit an adjustable cuff around your upper arm (roughly at heart level); the cuff will inflate and stop the blood flow through the artery. As the cuff deflates, blood begins to flow again, and the machine measures the vibration in the arterial wall (systolic pressure). Diastolic pressure will be measured once the blood flow is continuous and no longer creating a vibration against the arterial wall. Most blood pressure monitors will give a reading of both systolic and diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure varies throughout the day depending on things like your activities, body position, emotions, and exercise levels. By checking these levels at home, you can see how lifestyle changes are affecting your blood pressure and also record these changes if required.

Do you have high blood pressure? Your local Blooms the Chemist Pharmacist can speak with you about your lifestyle and blood pressure history. Find your nearest store.

Our range of at home blood pressure kits are available to make monitoring your levels simple. Each device comes with its own set of instructions to help you learn to use your specific monitor. Shop the range here.