Filter
Top Products
- 15 -
GB
GB
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MEASURING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AT HOME?
Measuring blood pressure during a check-up by a doctor in a hospital or clinic can make a
person nervous, which results in a higher blood pressure. Various factors can influence a blood
pressure measurement, therefore one single measurement does not necessarily give an
accurate reading. The measured blood pressure of a relaxed patient, after getting up in the
morning and before eating breakfast, is called fundamental blood pressure. Therefore
measuring the blood pressure at home is important, because there the blood pressure is closest
to this status.
A. Classification of blood pressure according to WHO
The standards to measure high and low blood pressure,
regardless of age, were determined by the World Health
Organization (WHO), as shown in picture 1.
B. Fluctuations of blood pressure
Blood pressure fluctuates depending on the time of day and
season. The fluctuations are more marked in
people with high blood pressure. Normally
blood pressure is higher when one is working
and then lowers during the night. The
fluctuations of blood pressure during a day
are illustrated in picture 2. These
measurements were taken every 5 minutes.
The thick line represents the period of sleep.
The rise of the blood pressure at 4 o'clock in
the morning (shown in the illustration Fig. 2
as A) and at noon (shown in the illustration as
B) represent a pain attack.
Fig. 1
180 189 mmHg
Systolic blood pressure
Diastolic blood pressure
85
89
NORMAL
HIGH NORMAL
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
A
B
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Time
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Blood pressure mmHg
Fig. 2
BM122.qxp 9/10/07 2:24 PM Page 15