by Armughan Riaz

Are you looking for Blood Pressure Monitors? This article will give you comprehensive information about all types of blood pressure monitors.Taking your blood pressure and keeping a record of the measurements is important. It will give you and your doctor information, how much your blood pressure changes during the day. Blood pressure monitor is an important tool in tracking your blood pressure. It is important to keep track of your blood pressure to monitor your condition. Blood pressure monitor detects your both systolic and diastolic pressure. Having this kind of tool will help you understand more about the condition you are in and how these changes affect your daily activities.

Aneroid Blood Pressure Monitors or Manual blood pressure monitors

Mostly you will see this blood pressure monitor at your Doctor's table. Manual blood pressure monitor includes arm cuff, a squeeze bulb for inflation, a stethoscope or microphone, and a medical gauge to measure the blood pressure. This monitor is the best if y
ou want most accurate reading. Disadvantage is that these are of much bigger sizes as compared to digital ones. You need separate stethoscope.

Digital Blood Pressure Monitors:

Also called as Electronic or automatic blood pressure monitor. These are available with wrist as well as arm cuffs. But arm cuffs digital monitors are considered as more accurate as compared to wrist monitors. They have a display screen which shows results. More of these come with only one simple button. Wrap cuff, and click button , thats it. The only disadvantage of these are that these are more expensive and sometimes does not give accurate result if cuff is not wrapped accurately. Better you take 2-3 readings whenever you use digital monitor.

Finger Blood Pressure Monitor:

New Technology has arrived. Those who has to take blood pressure frequently, this finger monitor is ideal for them. Just place your index finger in finger cuff. Cuff inflates automatically. LCD will show the results. Highly light weight and portable. Most
people use this monitor, even knowing that this is not accurate as arm monitors. They usually prefer it because these are most light weight and dont have to roll up their sleeves. When ever you buy this monitor, always compare your readings with normal arm BP apparatus.

PEDIATRIC BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR

This monitor comes with small cuff and a LCD like lcd of video game. This blood pressure monitor will help in keeping the children calmed and entertained while having their diagnosis and treatment. Pediatric blood pressure monitor is being used to screen the hypertension for young children. It is noted that both systolic and diastolic pressure increased significantly in children because of the higher number of overweight and obese children. As the child becomes heavier, the risk of high blood pressure increases as well. Monitoring blood pressure for pediatrics and children is widely used nowadays.

Wrist blood pressure monitor:

If you have fracture of arm or have arthritis of elbow joints, the preferably
use wrist blood pressure monitor. Although it is said that finger and wrist monitors do not measure blood pressure very well, many people are still using it. These are more sensitive to body temperature and body position so may give false reading. These are also too expensive. These come with a cuff, small LCD and a storage case. Some even with pulse monitor. These are highly portable. Manufacturers have come up with the idea of adding much utility to this device, and as a result, the wrist blood pressure device are improved to look like a watch. For this reason, the wrist blood pressure monitor has brought the comfort of taking blood pressure into much greater dimension. This is especially made to suit the lifestyle of wide-ranging people.

Blood pressure monitor cuff:

When choosing blood pressure monitor, always see size of cuff first. If you are a fat person, dont go for normal size cuff. You need a larger size cuff. If you will use normal size cuff , you may hyper inflate it, giving you false reading.
For children, also use smaller size cuffs. All depends upon your arm size.

What ever you choose for taking blood pressure, idea is try to select that blood pressure monitor which you can handle, read and operate easily and comfortably, thus giving you most accurate reading. While taking blood pressure, Follow all precautions on leaflet comes with any blood pressure monitor.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by Jennifer King

Over 90% of high blood pressure ( hypertension ) cases have their cause unknown. You can even be suffering from hypertension, and not know. This is because there are no symptoms that are physically recognised. To be diagnosed you need to have your pressure checked by your doctor.

Your pressure levels are easily affected by things you do just before you're tested. Smoking and drinking coffee can cause a temporary rise in your pressure which will show up on the results. Because of this, it is best to avoid any of these before you see your doctor as you can be tested at almost all doctor's visits.

Other more serious health conditions that can cause high blood pressure are…

A stroke

High cholesterol

Diabetes

Heart disease

If you suffer, or have suffered from any of these it is a good idea to get yourself regularly checked. If you're over the age of 60 then it's a good idea to have regular checks as well.

You can help yourself reduce your blood pressure with the ten tips below.

Keeping your weight low will reduce the pressure on the way your whole body performs. Being overweight can out a strain on every major organ in your body.

Limit your intake of any alcoholic drinks.

Sodium is well known for increasing your blood pressure so you can change to a low sodium salt if you use it on your food, or you can cut it out altogether. Salt is also in a lot of foods so it's a good idea to read the label before you purchase any.

Smoking kills hundreds of thousands of people every year so this should be cut out even if you don't suffer from hypertension.

Getting regular exercise increases the strength of your heart and lungs as well as reduces your blood pressure. Just some easy, moderate exercise for half an hour a few times a week. Just walking will increase your heart rate enough for it to have an affect.

Eat a diet low in fat, especially saturated fat. Your body needs some fat to function properly so you don't need to cut it out altogether. Some vitamins and minerals are transported around your body in your fat, and all you need to do is stick to the healthy fats.

Getting enough sleep will lower your hypertension.

Cut down your coffee intake if you're a caffeine junkie. You can drink decaf if coffee is your favorite beverage.

Learn to relax more if your life contains a lot of stress. Meditation is a great way to relax, but it can take a while to master.

Take the time every day to do something you enjoy doing. Giving yourself a quality 30 minutes every day will make a difference in your life.

These are ten simple tips you can start doing today to lower your blood pressure.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by Heather Colman

Norvasc belongs to a class of medications called calcium blockers. It is used to widen blood vessels, veins and arteries to reduce the pressure put on the heart while pumping blood. Norvasc is also used to treat high blood pressure and angina, which is accompanied by chest pains in a patient.

Before taking Norvasc it is important for a patient to discuss with a doctor any illnesses that they are suffering from, like liver disease, other diseases of the heart or blood vessels that are not related. Illnesses that are important to mention to the doctor are sick sinus syndrome, aortic stenosis, heart failure or low blood pressure. Patients who suffer from these symptoms may still be able to take Norvasc with regular monitoring by their doctor.

Some of the possible severe side effects form taking Norvasc are difficulty in breathing, fast or slow heartbeat, chest pain or dizziness and fainting. Some other severe reactions may be psychosis, jaundice or swelling in the legs and feet. If a patient suffers from any of the above-mentioned symptoms they should seek immediate medical attention.

Some of the less harmful side effects include fatigue, headaches, insomnia and abdominal pain. A patient may also notice nausea or difficulty urinating. If a patient is suffering from any of the above-mentioned side effects, or is experiencing any uncomfortable symptoms they should discuss these with the doctor who prescribed the medication.

This medication is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Norvasc is known as a category C medication which means that the effects on an unborn baby are not yet known and neither are the risks of the medication being passed on through the milk to a breast-fed baby.

Elderly people, especially those who are over the age of 65, are more likely to suffer from the side effects when taking Norvasc. If this is the case, Norvasc will often be avoided or it may be prescribed at a lower dosage and monitored.

Norvasc should be taken exactly as it has been prescribed and taken with a glass of water, not swallowed dry. It is recommended that patients who are taking Norvasc should under no circumstances stop taking their medication without first consulting with their doctor, as their condition could become worse if the medication is stopped suddenly.

Patients who miss a dose of their medication should skip that dose and continue to their next dose as usual, they should not double the dose. Patients taking Norvasc can overdose. The symptoms of an over dose include dizziness, chest pain shortness of breath, coma or an unusually slow or fast heartbeat. If a patient suspects that they have overdosed on Norvasc they should immediately seek medical attention.

Disclaimer – The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to your doctor for more information about Norvasc.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by Stephen Holt

High blood pressure – or "hypertension" – is a major public health problem that affects up to 1 in 4 Americans.

There are two types of high blood pressure, primary hypertension and secondary hypertension.
Primary hypertension accounts for 95% of hypertension and has several contributing factors.
Secondary hypertension (obviously the other 5% of hypertension cases) occurs when there is a malfunction in one of the body's organs or systems.

Primary (or essential) hypertension can be attributed to a variety of factors. Roughly 30% of cases can be attributed to genetic factors. For example, high blood pressure affects more African-Americans than Asians or Caucasians. In addition, you're twice as likely to suffer from high blood pressure if either of your parents had it.

The majority of people with primary hypertension have a particular abnormality – increased stiffness or resistance in the peripheral arteries, the arteries farthest away from the heart . These peripheral arteries are cruci
al in providing oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to all tissues and organs of the body.

This rigidity is present in those patients whose primary hypertension is related to genetic factors, lack of exercise, excessive salt intake, and aging. The exact cause of this hardening is unknown.
Treatment of high blood pressure involves evaluating certain lifestyle factors and making suitable modifications.

Obesity
This is common with patients with high blood pressure and becomes more prevalent with age. Obesity is definitely a contributing factor in high blood pressure because the heart has to work harder to deliver blood to supply the excess tissue.

Also, obese people with high blood pressure have a greater rigidity in their peripheral arteries. In addition, obesity highly correlates with a tendency for the kidneys to retain salt.
Therefore, a proper weight loss routine may aid in lowering the blood pressure.

Exercise
Regular exercise can help decrease high blood pressure in th
e long term. Research shows that the more you exercise, the more you decrease the blood pressure although the benefits of lower blood pressure deriving from exercise appears to occur much more with aerobic exercise than anaerobic exercise such as strength training.

Smoking
Although smoking is not directly associated to the development of high blood pressure, it does increase the risk of other complications such as heart disease and stroke.
Ironically, some smokers may potentially have lower blood pressure than non-smokers because nicotine in cigarettes causes decreased appetite, which can lead to weight loss which, in turn, leads to lower blood pressure.

Alcohol
Drinking excessive alcohol (over 2 drinks per day) may double your chances of suffering from high blood pressure.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Baby Boomer Fitness Expert, Stephen Holt, was named "2003 Personal Trainer of the Year" by the American Council on Exercise (ACE)
and AllExperts.com's first ever "Expert of the Year."

Make sure you get Stephen's FREE special report, "The Routine That Worked Wonders," his chapter from the book compilation book, The Power of Champions. Go to BabyBoomerFitnessExpert.com

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by John Pen

The heart pumps blood for good circulation in the body. The circulatory process is called blood pressure. Whenever a person gets excited, afraid, and angry – the blood pressure increases or decreases. Blood pressure is also related to pulse rate. Whenever there is too much or too less blood flow in the body, there comes a deficiency or disease.

Hypotension is a deficiency pertaining to low blood pressure. This sickness is more common to young women. Even if one has low blood pressure, one should be alarmed because this is a serious condition. In some cases, this condition is caused by improper functioning of the endocrine glands or by the circulatory system.

How will a person determine that one has hypotension? If one is experiencing headaches, dizziness when getting up, not being energetic or weak pulse may have hypotension. However, this is not a symptom of ill health. In many cases, people who have low blood pressure enjoy healthier and longer lives than individuals whose blood pressure is closer to average.

There are countless treatments for this circumstance. It could be taking prescription medicines or any form of detoxification may be helpful. Nevertheless, there is an option or more affordable way to prevent or to treat hypotension. This is through Chinese medicines.

There are herbs that could help treat hypotension. These include ginseng, oats, and hawthorn berries. In addition, there are traditional Chinese medicines that are useful for blood circulation improvements. These include Dang Shen, Huang Qi, Dang Gui,Huang Jing, Bai Zhu, Wu Wei Zi, mix-fried Ma Huang, Zhi Ke, Sheng Ma, and mix-fried Gan Cao. The advantage of taking these medicines is that one can get them simply at their on backyard. This also could prevent from frequent doctor and hospital visits. No matter what the case may be, a good medical examination is still best move to determine the condition in order to treat and prevent low blood pressure.

Other Chinese remedies are:

Cure Low Blood Pressure With Dandelion Root Powder

Dandelion root is known as an effective blood purifier because of its nutritive salts building up in the blood.

Polysaccharide insulin is also found in its root and it has immune-boosting properties for white blood cells.

Take 1 teaspoon of this medicine 3 times a day depending on the severity of your health condition.

Pu-Chung-I-Chi-Tang remedies For Low Blood Pressure

This Chinese medicine formula is a combination of ginseng and astragalus, which is an herb tonic.

This combination is good for one's blood pressure when taken regularly. The formula can be consumed as tea or taken in powder form. As tea, put half teaspoon of shredded roots in a cup of water then boil it for one and half minutes. Let it stand for 20 minutes and drink it once or twice in a day. As powder, mix one gram pulverized roots in three tablespoons of water and take two to three times daily.

Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan for Low Blood Pressure Treatment

Tian wang bu xin tan is a traditional Chinese medicine that helps in treating low blood pressure.

It serves as a tonic for the heart blood. This formulation is effective because of its natural content that comes from different Chinese herbs.

Take this with guidance of a doctor for best result in maintaining normal blood pressure.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by David Klein

If you feel a nagging pain at the back of your head, difficulty in breathing, and a sudden yet recurring spell of dizziness, you could be suffering from high blood pressure. A diet that is high in saturated and Trans fat, as well as sodium is linked to increased cases of high blood pressure. Smoking and stress also contribute greatly to having above normal blood pressures, and a lifestyle that lacks any sort of physical activity.

One effective and scientifically proven home remedy for high blood pressure is garlic. Eating cloves of garlic has been found to release important blood pressure and cholesterol lowering compounds that are helpful in maintaining better health. This spice can go beyond adding more flavor and kick to your dishes, it offers a host of health benefits as well. Sulphides which are sourced from garlic are responsible for maintaining blood pressure at a decent level. Sulphides come from the compound allicin, which is normally released as the garlic is being crushed or chewed. The selenium compounds on the other hand provide normalizing effects for the blood.

Vitamin C rich fruits like oranges are also very effective in reducing blood pressure levels over the course of several days, specifically two to three days. Another fruit that is rich in Vitamin C is the papaya. This fiber-rich wonder fruit will allow the bodily system to release toxins faster, thus the lighter feeling. Drinking plenty of water also helps in treating increased blood pressure, since it will flush out the toxins including excess salt from the body. It is well known how a high-salt diet promotes higher pressure, and with lots of fluid intake toxins will be eliminated more effectively. Don't forget to exercise and to quit smoking as much as possible. High blood pressure can be controlled and treated naturally without the needless expenditure.

Some other good remedies for hypertension that you can easily make on your own at home are:

1. A well known remedy for hypertension is to eat 2 garlic cloves daily to keep your blood pressure normal and prevent it from going up.

2. Mix honey, milk and garlic and drink up.

3. Green tea is known to be effective in lowering and keeping the blood pressure levels.

4. Daily exercise is very important for the body's wellbeing and can also help with hypertension.

5. Eat a tablespoon of honey every day.

6. Fresh papayas are also very effective. Eat daily.

7. Oatmeal is also a good treatment for hypertension.

8. Water is good for the body and can treat many illnesses. Drink 8-10 cups of water everyday.

Talk to your doctor and decide what is the best treatment for you but with the treatment that the doctor gives you, you should also talk to him about how to live you life better and healthier. Living healthier life meaning: eating right, doing some sport activities, not smoking, not drinking, and just listening to your body and needs.

When you do that and with the right treatment you should really feel the difference.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by Hans Hasselfors

No doubt, there are number of treatments and medicines available for the treatment of high blood pressure. But as it is said, "Precaution is better than cure". So, we must consider this saying and follow the recommended rules in order to prevent the high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is directly proportional to the body weight; it means that if your weight increases the blood pressure also rises. Overweight people have an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other illnesses. Losing weight reduces the risk Even if you don't have high or low blood pressure problems due to being overweight, a healthy weight can help you feel active and lower your risk of blood pressure and other diseases.

It's not just how much you weigh that's important: It also matters where your body stores extra fat. Just like the other things your body shape is also inherited from your parents. Some people are "Apple-shaped"; these have extra fat at the waist while others are "pear shaped" having more fat at their hips and thighs. The former have higher health risks than the later.

Anyways, wherever that extra weight is you can still prevent it and control your blood pressure. Even if you are already captured by the high blood pressure; no problem just start loosing wait and it will help you lower your pressure.

To loose weight, you should use up more calories than you eat. You need to use up the day's calories and some of the calories stored in your body fat. Eating 300 to 500 calories less per day, may lead to losing between one and two pounds per week. This is a realistic weight loss. It may seem slow, but would add up to a weight loss of more than three stone in a year.

Increase your physical activity if you really want to loose your weight. Being active controls your weight 10 times by eating less. Besides losing weight, there are other reasons to be more active: Being physically active can help lower high blood pressure and your total cholesterol level while raising HDL-cholesterol, and reduces your risk for heart disease. Physically active people have a lower risk of getting high blood pressure (20% to 50% lower) than inactive people.

You are not being asked to join a gym but at least try to fit various physical activities into your daily routine in small but important ways. If light physical activities done on regular basis can reduce the risk of blood pressure and heart disease.

Do at least 30 minutes of exercise like swimming or running. If you don't have 30 minutes for exercising, try to find two 15-minute periods or even three 10-minute periods. Try to do some type of aerobic activity in the course of a week or try brisk walking, most days of the week. These exercises can condition your heart and lungs and can prevent you from diseases.

Most people don't need to see a doctor before they start exercising, since a gradual, sensible exercise program has few health risks. But in case of any health problem like, heart disease, blood pressure problem or any other you should first consult your physician. Your doctor or other health worker can help you set sensible goals based on a proper weight for your height, build and age and help you prevent high blood pressure. Men and very active women may need up to 2,500 calories daily. Other women and inactive men need only about 2,000 calories daily. A safe plan is to eat 300 to 500 fewer calories a day to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

Hans Hasselfors is the founder of SubmitYourNewArticle.com. Visit our article directory for varied articles about high blood pressure.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by Robert Najemy

Some of the Causes of High Blood Pressure

Before analyzing some of the effective solutions for high blood pressure, we must first look at some of the possible causes of this problem. According to modern medicine some of the basic causes of high blood pressure are:

1. MALFUNCTIONING OF THE KIDNEYS may in various ways disturb the proper balance of water in the body. The kidneys determine the electrolyte balance in the liquids of the body, and thus will affect how much water will be retained in the body and how much will be expelled from the body. If the kidneys have heredity weaknesses, or are tired, or imbalanced because of life factors, then too much liquid may accumulate in the body increasing the blood pressure. One factor may be inefficient salt excretion. On the other hand, the kidneys may simply be very tired and overworked because of a heavily toxic diet with large overdoses of SODIUM. A direct relationship between the intake of high sodium foods and high blood pressure has been established.

It seems also that the kidney is responsible for producing various chemical substances, which in a certain way control the blood pressure and the tension of the walls of the arteries and veins in the circulatory system. Well-functioning kidneys are essential for control of proper blood pressure.

2. MALFUNCTIONING OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS may also be the root cause of disturbances in the blood pressure. Disturbances in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus can affect the functioning of the adrenals in a negative way, creating high or low blood pressure. In general, any malfunctioning of the endocrine system may result in blood pressure problems. It is also likely that this disharmony in the endocrine system may in turn be the result of emotional or mental stress, or unhealthy living habits.

3. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM may give messages of contraction to the arteries and veins causing the pressure to rise as the volume of the circulatory system is decreased. The reasons why the nervous system may do this may be different in each person, but in most cases they are psychosomatic.

4. OUR DIET affects our blood pressure. It is logical to believe that the substances of which the blood is constituted will affect the amount of liquid held in the blood and the tension of the walls of the blood vessels. This is especially true in cases where toxic waste products tend to accumulate on the walls of the blood vessels, destroying their flexibility and narrowing the opening and thus the volume of the vessels. The pressure in these vessels increases.

5. OUR ENVIRONMENT creates various stress conditions, which may force our bodies to react with a rise in blood pressure. The pressures we feel at work, at home, in the society are transferred through the endocrine and nervous system into a tension and pressure within our body.

6. OUR WAY OF REACTING TO LIFE will play perhaps the most important part of all. An individual who feels secure, relaxed and self-confident in the face of responsibilities and stressful situations will obviously be able to maintain a normal healthy condition, independent of the external pressures. It has been shown in thousands of cases of people who had high blood pressure that when they learned how to relax they were able to keep the problem under control often without the use of medical drugs.

7. There are OTHER CAUSES, which we have not mentioned here.

SOME NATURAL SOLUTIONS

Now let us examine some possible measures we can take in order to overcome the problem of high blood pressure. Those with serious health problems would do well to consult their doctors before employing any of the following.

1. Purification of the Blood Stream. If the problem of high blood pressure seems to be accentuated by a toxic condition in the body and the blood stream, then we can improve the situation by cleaning up the inner part of the body. This inner cleansing can be made in the following way:

a. Avoid salt, animal proteins, animal fats, cheese, butter and all canned vegetables or any substances which have sodium salts added as preservatives or for taste.

b. Avoid all stimulants such as black tea, coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, salt, mustard, black and white pepper, ginger, nutmeg and other spices.

c. Eat plenty of high potassium foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains and beans. Especially green leafy vegetables.

d. Occasional juice and vegetable broth fasts under the guidance of a doctor will help to change the blood chemistry; detoxify the kidneys, blood vessels and other organs and restore a natural healthy condition in the body.

e. The use of garlic and onions can tend to open up and clean the arteries. One may take them in fresh form or in capsules. Some naturopathic doctors also suggest lecithin and vitamin C for helping to restore healthy blood vessels.

f. Eating only watermelon for one week during the summer when it is in season can help purify and rejuvenate the kidneys.

2. The Restoration of the Proper Functioning of the Kidneys and Adrenal Glands.

We may stimulate the kidneys and adrenal glands into more harmonious functioning in some of the following ways:

a. Various physical exercises which tonify these organs. These can be learned from a well-trained Yoga teacher.

b. Through Reflexology Massage on the points corresponding to the kidneys and adrenal glands on the soles of the feet we can effectively rejuvenate and harmonize these glands.

3. Regular Relaxation of the Nervous System Through Various Techniques.

We can relax and strengthen the nervous system so that it is more resistant to stress and effort in our daily life in the following ways:

a. Deep relaxation techniques in which we can learn to consciously relax the muscles and nerves and thus the walls of the blood vessels. While in this deeply relaxed state, we can imagine light and healing energy flowing into the heart, adrenals, kidneys and head area.

b. Exercises and breathing techniques can be used on a regular basis to release muscular and emotional tension from the body and mind.

c. Certain phonetic vibrations such as «OOOO» and «MMMM» have a calming and balancing effect on the body and mind.

d. Regular meditation has proven to be extremely effective in overcoming high blood pressure.

Details about the above-mentioned techniques can be learned from competent yoga teachers.

4. Change of Attitude Towards Life

Our attitudes towards life; our attachments, aversions, fears and ways of reacting to life can create a great deal of unnecessary tension in our lives. When the cause of high blood pressure is psychosomatic, it is obviously necessary to analyze and overcome these emotional factors which are contributing to the problem. Otherwise a total control of the situation will be impossible even if we perfectly employ the other physically oriented methods.

We can begin to analyze the factors in our lives, which are causing us to react with stress or worry and gradually become freer from these ways of reacting. We would do well to approach life in a more relaxed way, with self-confidence and peace of mind. We can gradually work towards this state of mind through working with various systems of self-analysis and self-transformation, which are available today.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by Gordon Cameron

High blood pressure causes major health problems for many people around the world and work goes on all the time to improve the monitoring and control of blood pressure in patients who have the condition. A new study has shown that pharmacists may be very good at keeping an eye on the BP levels in groups of selected patients. A new bit of internet software and a secure Web interface helped control BP in a group of about three thousand American patients.

Those with high BP are at risk of stroke or heart attack if the problem is not brought under better control. Both stroke and heart attack can lead to either early death or a severe deterioration in the quality of life. Smoking, diabetes and a high cholesterol level are also commonly found in those people with high BP and the combination of these factors is extremely dangerous if not dealt with properly.

Many people with hypertension / high BP need to take medication on a daily basis. Sometimes just one tablet a day is enough but in many cases it needs a combination of BP tablets and some medication to lower the cholesterol level too. All of this can result in side effects due to the interactions of the BP drugs with each other and with any other medication that the patient is taking. Almost all of those who take regular blood pressure medications will experience drug related side effects of one sort or another. Common side effects are fatigue, cough and – in men – problems with a loss of sex drive and a loss of sexual arousal due to the BP meds.

Hypertension (the other name for high blood pressure) is often poorly controlled and BP levels often run high even in those who are on medication every day. Research done previously has shown benefit by adding input from a nurse or pharmacist into the patients care pathway.

The research used a home BP monitor with the results supervised by a pharmacist – the patients fed their results into a secure web based form and the pharmacist reviewed the readings and worked closely with each patient. The group studied were all adults between 25 and 75 – all had poorly controlled hypertension but were otherwise well.

The patients were divided randomly into three groups: group one had their usual care; group two had home BP monitoring and secure patient Web services training only but no pharmacist input and group three had the full package of home BP monitoring and Web training plus pharmacist care management delivered through Web communications.

The results showed that there was no real difference in BP readings in the two groups who did not have a pharmacist looking after them – both groups saw no real change in their BP control. But the group with the pharmacy input saw much better results. Fifty percent of the patients developed readings that were normal when they had previously been high all the time.

It looks like Web-based pharmacy care of people with hypertension is feasible and can improve BP control and I suspect we may see a lot more of this kind of thing in the future.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,

by Max Johnson

When it comes to getting the best medical equipment on the market, you may find LifeSource is one of the best for your blood pressure monitors and more. This is a reliable manufacturer with a reputation for accuracy and excellence. When you demand more out of your equipment or tools, you will recognize LifeSource as being one of those names that keeps popping up. More and more professionals choose this manufacturer for their exacting needs because this innovative manufacturer understands your needs.

There are many popular manufacturers of blood pressure monitors. This just happens to be one of the companies that keep getting placed in the spotlight for going above and beyond what is considered the normality of the day. Always pushing the boundaries of acceptability means you benefit with innovative new designs and styles. After all, you work within the healthcare or medical industry, and you understand the importance of innovation and forward thinking designs.

Playing it safe is not always an option. Technologies are invented and reinvented to insure the best of the best is available. Thanks to this one manufacturer, you will discover you simply get more of the good stuff you need without a lot of frills that may weigh you down.

LifeSource blood pressure monitors simply provide you with more. Take a look at these examples to get a rough idea of why this is one company that provides you with more.

1. The LifeSource blood pressure monitors with advanced inflation sensors is a wonderful example of what this outstanding manufacturer has to offer. You can store a maximum of seven readings in the extended memory, and you get the added bonus of a pulse rate along with the reading. This is latex free thanks to LifeSource's belief in excellence and quality in an allergy free environment. This has been clinically validated and is perfect for home use.

2. The LifeSource blood pressure monitors in a compact form with wrist sensor are great for those needing something extra. This is going to make it easy to get an accurate reading when the arm is not a likely target. The memory stores settings for up to 2 people and you will be able to record 30 readings with an average reading being available. The four week logbook is free with this awesome piece of medical equipment, and this fits the majority of wrists up to 8.5 inches.

3. The LifeSource blood pressure monitors with a manual inflation composition is wonderful for those that prefer the manual component. This allows you to control the amount of pressure applied for the reading and can be more comfortable for the patient or client. You will find 30 stored readings including the pulse rate, and the entire unit is completely latex free. You will find this manual system is easy to handle, and the appropriate size cuff will insure maximum accuracy.

When choosing LifeSource for your needs, you will be getting a high quality and accurate piece of medical equipment. Whether you are purchasing this for home use or clinical use, you will discover this is a manufacturer that will provide perfect quality for both environments.

Tags: health risk factors, systolic pressure, kidney disorders,