How does blood pressure change during the day? Measure your blood pressure correctly. Circadian rhythm of blood pressure

Hypertension is the most powerful risk factor for developing heart disease. vascular diseases, including stroke, ischemic disease heart, heart failure, chronic diseases kidneys and aorta, peripheral diseases arteries.

Arterial pressure may change throughout the day. This is considered normal, but sudden changes may indicate diseases and malfunctions in the body. Most people do not notice any symptoms of fluctuating blood pressure, which makes it difficult to detect.

To obtain it, it must be measured in different time days for several days. What pressure is considered normal?

Value 120/80 mmHg. considered the ideal blood pressure. 130/80-140/90 – normal, 140/90-160/100 – moderately high, 160/100 and above – too high.

What is the cause of pressure surges?

The most common causes of floating blood pressure

Changes in blood pressure may in some cases be due to sensitivity to certain foods. This is especially true for lovers of very salty dishes.

Caffeine. Coffee causes a temporary increase in blood pressure. Three to four cups can increase it from 4 to 13 mmHg. Those who do not regularly drink coffee may notice more significant fluctuations; regular coffee drinkers will not notice it at all. Experts don't know why caffeine raises blood pressure, but they think it's related to blood pressure. blood vessels.

2. Stress and medications

During stress, the arteries narrow, making it harder for the heart to work. This increases blood pressure, blood sugar and heart rate. If you live in a situation chronic stress, That constant load on the heart can damage the arteries and increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Medications. Some medications, such as decongestants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and drugs may temporarily increase blood pressure.

3.Diabetes and dehydration

Diabetes Damages nerves and causes frequent urination. When the body becomes dehydrated due to frequent urination And nervous system is damaged due to excessive amounts of glucose in the blood, blood pressure regulation may not be optimal.

Dehydration may also lead to pressure fluctuations with a sharp drop. To raise blood pressure by increasing blood volume, water retention must be restored. When dehydrated, the body loses its electrolyte chemical balance. This can lead to weakness and blood pressure fluctuations.

4. Deposition of calcium or cholesterol in the arteries

Calcium and cholesterol deposits in the arteries make them narrower, stiffer, less elastic, and unable to relax, causing hypertension. This phenomenon is most common among middle-aged and older people.

5.Heart problems and nervous system diseases

Heart problems: such as low heart rate, heart failure and myocardial infarction can lead to fluctuations in blood pressure.

Nervous system diseases: stem atrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and amyloidosis (protein metabolism disorder) can damage normal system blood regulation.

This can cause many disorders, including the body's inability to regulate blood pressure.

In addition, pressure surges can lead to:

  • fever (accelerates heart rate);
  • adrenal fatigue;
  • menopause;
  • human predisposition to fluctuating blood pressure;
  • pregnancy;
  • exposure to heat;
  • age.

In some cases, experts link blood pressure fluctuations to more high risk development of stroke.

How to deal with blood pressure instability

What to do when faced with instability, how to deal with it? A surefire way to regulate it: improve the elasticity of the arteries, strengthen the adrenal glands, and keep stress under control. Only a doctor can give specific recommendations here.

Will help you cope with fluctuating blood pressure, control your weight through diet and physical exercise, smoking cessation, deep breathing exercises, reducing salt and alcohol consumption.

The following procedure will quickly help reduce blood pressure.

Moisten with 5-6% regular table water or apple cider vinegar a napkin or piece of cloth and apply to your feet for 5-10 minutes

Folk remedies for treating pressure surges

Oat decoction

Rinse a glass of oats, fill it with a liter of filtered, or preferably distilled, water at room temperature and leave for 10 hours. Then simmer over low heat for half an hour. After removing from heat, wrap and leave for another 12 hours. Strain and add up to 1 liter of boiled water.

Take 100 ml daily three times a day for one and a half months. After finishing do month break and repeat the course. And this should be done throughout the year. In addition, this remedy is very effective for stomach and duodenal ulcers and chronic pancreatitis.

Garlic

This is an old proven remedy. Peel the head of garlic, wipe them, put them in a jar and pour a glass of unrefined sunflower or olive oil. Leave for 24 hours, shaking occasionally (every 4-6 hours). Pour in the juice of one lemon and stir. Leave in a cool place for a week, shaking every other day. Take 1 teaspoon 20 minutes before meals 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 2 months, then a break for a month and repeat the treatment again.

Mumiyo

Every day on an empty stomach (in the morning), take 1 tablet (0.2 g) of mumiyo for 10 days with 3 sips of milk. Take a break for a week and repeat the course. It is better to conduct at least 4 such courses.

Important! You should be very careful when taking blood pressure-lowering drugs during a hypotensive state. The pressure can either drop sharply, or if you refuse to take medications that reduce pressure, it can increase sharply and a crisis will occur. That is, the solution to this issue must be solved using an individual search method and always with the participation of a doctor.

It should be borne in mind that preparations based on St. John's wort, motherwort, valerian, nettle (including valocordin) should not be taken during pressure surges(!) - they increase blood viscosity and its tendency to form blood clots, worsen blood flow through the arteries and, therefore , increase blood pressure.

Natural remedies for high blood pressure

  • Celery. The compounds found in celery oil help relax and stretch the muscles that line your arteries. This helps regulate blood pressure.
  • Potassium in the diet. Potassium-rich foods (such as bananas, oranges, spinach, and zucchini) may lower blood pressure. WARNING: These foods may be harmful to kidney problems—check with your doctor.
  • Grape juice - good remedy to maintain normal blood pressure.
  • Black Seed Oil: Its active ingredients will lower cholesterol levels and help control blood pressure. It is enough to consume one teaspoon of this oil daily (can be mixed with fruit juice or tea)
  • Ginkgo biloba. Medicinal herb increases blood circulation in the body by dilating blood vessels.
  • baked potatoes are also effective means for the treatment of hypertension.
  • Fenugreek seeds should be taken twice a day, on an empty stomach.
  • Watermelon is another good remedy to prevent high pressure. Also a teaspoon of dried watermelon seeds, ground into powder for empty stomach twice a day with water, helps prevent high blood pressure.
  • Basil leaves (1-2 leaves) on an empty stomach will relieve high blood pressure.
  • Eating fresh papaya on an empty stomach for 15 to 20 days helps in treating hypertension.

Fluctuations in blood pressure occur every day, in any person, as part of the normal, healthy functioning of the individual. Certain physiological processes and activities can lead to changes in blood pressure levels - this is completely normal. There are certain conditions and lifestyle factors that can negatively affect normal physiological processes and cause greater fluctuations in blood pressure throughout the day.

Your blood pressure at any given time depends on a number of factors related to your lifestyle. Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the heart works to pump blood throughout the body. The top number of blood pressure is called systolic pressure. This number indicates the amount of blood pressure at the moment of contraction of the heart muscle. The bottom number is diastolic pressure, it indicates the pressure when the heart is at rest or between beats (when the heart muscle is in a relaxed state). The normal blood pressure range is from 100 to 130 for systolic and 70 to 90 for diastolic. A certain degree of fluctuation in blood pressure throughout the day is normal occurrence, however, sharp or very frequent fluctuations may indicate certain health problems.

Normal blood pressure variability

Normal daily fluctuations in blood pressure caused by natural physiological processes in the body can be observed every day. As a result, blood pressure values ​​can vary from 10 to 15 mm. rt. Art. for systolic and from 5 to 10 mm. rt. Art. for diastolic between measurements taken at rest in the morning and at noon. So, for people whose normal blood pressure in the morning is 125/70, a mid-day measurement may show a reading of 140/80. Changes in blood pressure usually occur without discomfort. However, sudden changes may lead to adverse symptoms such as headache, dizziness or anxiety. If symptoms persist over time, seeking medical attention may be warranted.

Hypertension

People with persistent high blood pressure (140/90 or higher) are diagnosed with hypertension. Hypertension causes the blood vessels leading to and from the heart to constrict. As a result, the heart is forced to work hard to pump blood through the vessels of the body. Individuals who have hypertension may experience greater fluctuations in blood pressure throughout the day. Since the blood vessels are already constricted, they become more sensitive to changes in the body's condition. For people with hypertension, factors such as stress, exercise, or poor nutrition, can lead to a sharp change in blood pressure.

Stress

“Fight or flight” is a normal physiological response to stress, part of a survival mechanism that works to prepare the body to fight a problem (or danger) or to flee. An increase in heart rate and breathing and an increase in adrenaline levels are physiological responses that occur when a perceived threat occurs. Stress, like other mental and emotional stress, can cause similar physiological reactions. An increase in heart rate caused by stress can cause an automatic increase in blood pressure - this normal reaction body.

Reactions to medications and foods

In some people, food sensitivities and physiological reactions to certain medications can cause fluctuations in blood pressure levels. People who are allergic to certain foods may experience a condition called anaphylaxis. Bronchial tract may swell and close. Quick cuts hearts are a reaction to this problem, accordingly, the blood pressure level rises. Some prescription medications, such as antidepressants, immunosuppressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs, can also cause blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to rise accordingly. Acetaminophen, decongestants, caffeine, and some birth control pills, have a similar effect on blood pressure.

How to measure blood pressure correctly

To obtain the correct values, it is necessary to measure the pressure at rest. Before measuring, you need to sit and rest in silence for 5-15 minutes. Repeated measurements should be taken no earlier than 10 minutes later, so that the vessels straighten and rest. Repeated measurements usually give lower numbers, since at rest the body relaxes and the heart works less intensely.

It should be understood that blood pressure cannot be a constant value. Each heartbeat is slightly different in intensity from the previous one. Any physical or emotional stress leads to an increase in blood pressure. A normal conversation leads to an increase in pressure by 10-15 mm. rt. Art. - This is fine.

The relationship between blood pressure values ​​during “office” measurements and daily monitoring

Circadian rhythm of blood pressure

In healthy people

The daily rhythm is characterized by two daily maximums: the first - from 9.00 to 11.00 and the second - from 18.00 to 19.00. Between these two maximums there is a plateau.

IN evening time Blood pressure usually decreases and reaches a minimum from 2.00 to 4.00 at night. Then blood pressure begins to rise, and the rate of increase is maximum from 6.00 to 8.00 in the morning.

In hypertensive patients

According to the degree of blood pressure reduction at night, patients are divided into four groups. The first group includes patients whose blood pressure curve graph at night has a bucket-shaped depression. Such patients are called “dipper” type hypertensives (from English dipper – “bucket, scoop”). If blood pressure does not fall sufficiently at night and the bucket-shaped depression on the blood pressure graph is small, then such patients are classified as a “non-dipper” group (second group). This condition is typical in some pathological conditions (secondary hypertension, severe primary arterial hypertension), in the elderly. Among patients in this group, there is a high risk of target organ damage (including strokes and heart attacks).

Patients with an excessive drop in blood pressure (a very large depression on the graph) are classified as a group called “over-dipper” or “hyper-dipper” (third group). In such patients there is greatest number cases of asymptomatic brain lesions such as stroke.

If blood pressure readings at night exceed those during the day, then such patients are called “night-peaker”. This is the most severe patients with the highest risk of complications arterial hypertension, they form the fourth group.

Patient instruction or rules of conduct daily monitoring HELL

During daily monitoring, it is necessary to follow certain rules, which significantly increases the diagnostic value of the study and allows you to minimize the number of erroneous measurements.

When measuring blood pressure, the arm with the cuff should be extended along the body and relaxed.

Intense physical activity and exercise are excluded on the day of blood pressure monitoring.

If blood pressure measurement begins while walking, then you need to stop, lower your arm along your body and wait until the measurement is completed.

The patient is not allowed to look at the readings of the device, as this provokes an alarming reaction in him, which can lead to distortion of the results and neutralize the main advantage of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.

At night, the patient should sleep and not think about the operation of the recording device, otherwise the values ​​of night blood pressure will be unreliable.

During monitoring, it is necessary to keep a detailed diary in which the patient must reflect his actions and well-being.

It is important to know!!!

Without pedantic keeping of a diary indicating time and type active actions, time of adoption medicines, duration of rest, deciphering the monitoring results is impossible!

Options for 24-hour blood pressure monitoring

Depending on the goals of researchers, several monitoring options are possible:

1) during normal working hours;

2) on weekends;

3) under moderate physical and psychological stress;

4) in a regime of sharply limited physical and psychological stress;

5) under the maximum possible physical and psychological stress.


The cardiovascular system

Circadian rhythm is inherent in all indicators of functioning cordially- vascular system– heart rate, heart rhythm structure, volumetric blood flow velocity, blood pressure. During the day, not only the activity of individual parts of the circulatory system changes, but also their reactivity and sensitivity to various influencesphysical activity, stress. So, for example, the volume of blood circulation, that is, the time during which a blood particle runs through the large and small circles of blood circulation, is 23-24 minutes, but this figure is typical for the light period of the day, while in the dark period the speed of blood flow decreases.

The heart works in a strictly ordered daily rhythm. Continuous ECG recording for 24 hours in people at rest showed that the heart rate is minimal in the fifth to sixth hour of sleep and is 48-50 beats per minute. It reaches its maximum in the afternoon (at about 6 p.m.), and then gradually begins to decrease again. For example, the pulse rate of workers reaches an absolute maximum at 16 hours and decreases at 4–6 hours with an average daily fluctuation of 18–19 beats per minute. However, this minimum, occurring at 4 hours, is observed in August, and in March it shifts to 24 hours. In adolescents aged 15–17 years, two types of daily pulse rate curves were identified: the first type was characterized by a gradual increase during the day and evening, reaching a maximum from 16 to 20 hours and a decline to a minimum at 4–8 hours; changes of the second type had the shape of a two-peak curve with the highest rates at 12 and 20 hours and a decrease at 4-8 and 16 hours. The two-peak nature of the pulse rate curve was also noted in children.

Fluctuations in blood pressure throughout the day are also subject to a clear circadian rhythm. Daily blood pressure profile curve in daytime forms a plateau with two peaks - from 9 to 11 and from 18 to 19 hours. After 19 hours, blood pressure begins to decrease and reaches a minimum at 2–4 hours. Then a pronounced increase in blood pressure is observed in the early morning hours: approximately from 4 to 10 hours Blood pressure rises from minimum night values ​​to daily level. Consequently, regular and stable fluctuations in blood pressure during the day have a biphasic rhythm, which is characterized by a nighttime decrease in blood pressure by 10-20% compared to the average daily level. The severity of the biphasic rhythm is assessed by the degree of decrease in blood pressure at night as a percentage (daily index). Depending on the value of the daily index, as well as on the time of registration of acrophase, two types of circadian rhythm of blood pressure are distinguished - daytime and nighttime. Diurnal rhythm is the type of rhythm that is characterized by the registration of acrophase during the period of active wakefulness from 7 to 22 hours. The nocturnal type of circadian rhythm is distinguished by acrophases during the period of rest and night sleep - from 22 to 7 o'clock. At the same time, the daytime type of circadian rhythm of blood pressure is dominant in practically healthy people. The severity of the biphasic blood pressure rhythm depends on age and race: in older people and African Americans, there is often no nocturnal decrease in blood pressure. Such hemodynamic parameters as HR (heart rate), SV (cardiac stroke volume), MOS (cardiac minute volume), URS (cardiac stroke), MRS (cardiac minute work), OSKSM (cardiac index) also have a predominant daytime type circadian rhythm, while for TPR (total peripheral resistance) the nocturnal type of circadian rhythm with acrophase at night is more typical. The daily rhythm of some hemodynamic parameters is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Daily rhythm of blood circulation parameters in practically healthy people.

Index

Mezor

Amplitude

Acrophase

Blood pressure s, mm Hg.

Blood pressure d, mm Hg.

Blood pressure avg, mm Hg

MOC, l/min

MRS, kgm/min

OPS, din*cm -5 /s

OSCM, ml/min per 100 cm 3

Note. Mezor – average daily level of the indicator; amplitude – the range of oscillations, determined by the difference between the values ​​of the maximum deviation from the mesor; acrophase – time of maximum value of the indicator.

The temporal organization of blood pressure fluctuations during the day is formed under the influence of the circadian rhythms of the activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the ANS, as well as the daily periodicity of the content of neurohumoral substances (cortisol, TSH, insulin, opioids, vasoactive peptides), directly or indirectly involved in the regulation of blood pressure.

The circadian temporal structure of the functioning of the cardiovascular system for two days is disrupted by a single dose of alcoholization that causes an average degree of intoxication. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to long-lasting biorhythmological changes not only in the cardiovascular system, but also in other physiological systems human body.

Thus, in practically healthy people, the period of active wakefulness is characterized by a high level of basic indicators of the cardiovascular system. Thanks to this, we provide high level daytime performance and adaptation to changing conditions external environment. During the period of rest and night sleep, the activity of the cardiovascular system decreases. Moreover, in most healthy people, synchronous operation of the circulatory apparatus is achieved through internal consistency of the circadian rhythms of hemodynamic parameters. Internal synchronization of circadian rhythms is ensured not only by the coincidence of acrophases of hemodynamic parameters, but also by physiological phase shifts in circadian rhythms of a number of circulatory parameters. Thus, for BP C, BP ​​av, HR, SVR, MOS, URS, MRS, OCSM, the zone of “wandering” of the acrophases of the circadian rhythm is the period of daytime wakefulness, for OPS – the period of rest and night sleep. Blood pressure d can change during the day, both daytime and nighttime. In addition, it should be noted that 80% of healthy people are characterized by internal and external (in relation to the sleep-wake rhythm) consistency of the daily rhythm of the main indicators of blood circulation.

Respiratory system

Gas exchange is also largely inconsistent throughout the day. In healthy people, at 6 p.m. the most low level in the blood of the partial tension of carbon dioxide and the content of total carbon dioxide, the greatest accumulation of acidic metabolites. At night and morning hours (from 21:00 to 6:00) there is a gradual increase in the partial pressure of total carbon dioxide in arterial blood to pronounced hypercapnia, and the pH during these hours decreases and has the most low value at 4 o'clock in the morning. The oxygen tension in the blood reaches its maximum at 10–12 o’clock, although under resting conditions the frequency, depth and volume of respiration are especially high at 16–17 o’clock with minimum values ​​at 4–5 o’clock. During the daytime, with the greatest physical activity, maximum ventilation of the lungs supports the most effective gas exchange and the greatest oxygenation of arterial blood. Hypoventilation at night and in the morning contributes to the development of arterial hypoxemia and hypercapnia, which leads to mixed metabolic and gas acidosis. A daily rhythm of bronchial patency in humans has also been revealed, with a peak at 6 p.m. and a minimum from 10 p.m. to 11 a.m. This reflects periodic fluctuations in the lumen of the bronchi due to the same fluctuations in tone vagus nerve and may explain why patients with bronchial asthma attacks of suffocation occur at night.

At night, when bronchial conductivity decreases and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide increases, the minute volume of respiration (MRV) and the respiratory rate (RR), which has an ultradian rhythm with a period of 1.5 hours, decrease.

4 – 6 hours - maximum decrease in vital capacity, maximum increase in TOL.

4 – 5 hours – the partial pressure of oxygen is minimal.

8 hours – reducing the likelihood of suffocation in asthmatics.

8 – 9 hours - decrease in the rate of inhalation and exhalation.

10 hours – ventilation volume is maximum.

11 hours 30 minutes – 21 hours 30 minutes - maximum increase in vital capacity. At this time, tissues absorb 300 ml of oxygen per minute.

18 – 20 hours – in men the inhalation rate increases, and in women the exhalation rate increases.

22 hours – the volume of ventilation is minimal.

Note: during the day the lungs are more resistant to influences aggressive factors environment; during transmeridian flights, a change in the geomagnetic field strength and a change climatic conditions leads to a change in the circadian rhythm of VC.



Arterial hypertension (AH) is the most common chronic disease of the cardiovascular system among the adult population. More than 40 million adult Russians suffer from hypertension.

“The silent killer” is what doctors call hypertension because it can be asymptomatic for years, and the patient, having a persistent increase in blood pressure (BP), does not even suspect it. There is a well-known “rule of halves”:

· of all people with hypertension, only half know about their disease;

· of those who know, only half are treated;

· and of those who are treated, only half are treated effectively, that is, they achieve normalization of blood pressure.

Foreign studies convincingly show that the presence of hypertension shortens life: the life expectancy of a man aged 40 years in economically developed countries is about 40 years, with hypertension - 34 years, with a combination of hypertension with other risk factors - only 13 years.

In this regard, it is becoming increasingly important preventive actions and formation healthy image life among the population.

What is blood pressure and what level of blood pressure is considered normal?

Arterial (blood) pressure - this is the force with which the blood flow presses on the vessels.

Blood pressure helps move blood through the vessels. There are two indicators of blood pressure:

· systolic blood pressure (SBP), also called “upper”, reflects the pressure in the arteries that is created when the heart contracts and releases blood into the arterial part of the vascular system;

· diastolic blood pressure (DBP), also called “lower”, reflects the pressure in the arteries at the moment the heart relaxes, during which it fills before the next contraction.

Both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)

REMEMBER!Normal blood pressure figures are less than 140/90 mm Hg. Art. (the optimal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg.)

What does blood pressure level depend on?

Let's imagine the cardiovascular system as a closed system consisting of a tap, a tank and connecting tubes. The faucet serves as the heart, the tubes serve as the arteries, and the cistern serves as the body's blood supply.

SO:

· if you open the tap completely, the pressure in the tube will increase;

· if you reduce the lumen of the tube, the pressure will also increase;

· if you increase the amount of liquid in the tank, the amount of liquid passing through the tube will increase, which will lead to an increase in pressure in the system.

Thus, the value of blood pressure depends on:

· on the force with which the heart pumps blood into the vessels;

· on vascular resistance (elasticity of the vascular wall, size of the vascular lumen);

· on the amount of blood.

Examples:

1. When smoking, your heart rate increases and this leads to an increase in blood pressure.

2. Vasospasm due to stress, or narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels due to atherosclerotic plaques also lead to increased blood pressure.

3. With excessive consumption of salt, which retains fluid in the body, the volume of circulating blood increases. The result is an increase in blood pressure.

Blood pressure fluctuates even among healthy person!

During the day, in different days, depending on the time of year, the weather - the pressure constantly fluctuates. And this is normal. Such changes meet the needs of the body. Therefore, for example, when you sit, the pressure is one, when you get up - another, when you wake up - a third, when you work - a fourth.

In a healthy person, daily fluctuations in blood pressure are insignificant!

Patients with arterial hypertension experience sudden changes in pressure!

Stress also affects blood pressure. Often, when your doctor takes your blood pressure and you are worried, it will be higher than when you take it at home. It is called"REACTION TO THE WHITE COAT" . Because of these fluctuations, the doctor cannot prescribe treatment by measuring the pressure only once. Several measurements should be taken, usually several times during the examination, and then several times in the following days and weeks.

How to measure blood pressure correctly?

To measure blood pressure, a special device is used - a tonometer.

For home blood pressure self-monitoring, it is recommended to use electronic automatic tonometer with a cuff on the shoulder. Measuring pressure with a mechanical tonometer can distort the actual blood pressure numbers when you inflate the cuff yourself using a bulb. So leave it to the mechanics medical workers and use an automatic tonometer to monitor your blood pressure.

Rules for measuring blood pressure:

1. Terms

Blood pressure should be measured in a comfortable environment at room temperature, after at least 5 minutes of rest. In the cold, spasms and increased blood pressure may occur. Please note that after eating, drinking a cup of coffee or smoking a cigarette, blood pressure can only be measured 30 minutes later.

2. Patient position

· The measurement is taken in a sitting position without crossing your legs.

· The hand rests completely on the table. The position of the hand “in weight” is not allowed.

· The back rests against the back of the chair.

· The height of the table should be such that the cuff is at heart level.

· At the time of measurement, you cannot talk or make sudden movements.

· Breathing is calm and uniform.

3. Requirements for devices and cuffs

· The cuff should correspond to the circumference of the shoulder.

· The lower edge of the cuff is located 2.0 cm above the elbow.

· Cuff tightness: a finger should fit between the cuff and the surface of the patient's shoulder.

· The cuff should be positioned correctly on the shoulder - at the level of the heart.

· Tonometers must be registered by the Ministry of Health and certified by Gosstandart and Metrological Control (“metrologist’s mark”).

4.Measuring technique

· The measurement is carried out at rest after 5-10 minutes of rest.

Initially, blood pressure is measured on both arms; if the difference between the arms is less than 10 mm Hg, then further measurement is carried out on the non-working arm (usually the left). If the difference between hands is more than 10· mm, then all subsequent measurements are carried out on the arm where the blood pressure numbers are higher.

5. Multiplicity of measurements

6. Regularity of measurements

o in the morning after waking up and morning toilet;

o in the evening at 21.00-22.00;

o in addition, in cases of poor health and suspected elevation of blood pressure.

· It is advisable to record the measurement results in a diary in order to later consult a doctor regarding treatment.

Sample diary for daily blood pressure measurements:

date

Time

Arterial pressure

Note (complaints, reasons increase in pressure, applied medicines and etc.)

Morning

Evening

Morning

Evening

How often should you measure your blood pressure?

1. Healthy adults over 18 years of age should have their blood pressure measured at least every 2 years if their baseline blood pressure is< 120/80 мм рт.ст., а при регистрации цифр в диапазоне 120-139/80-89 мм рт.ст. - ежегодно.

2. If you have high or low blood pressure, measurements should be taken as often as recommended by your doctor.

For self-monitoring of blood pressure to be effective, you must be confident in the accuracy of the device you are using.

For daily home blood pressure self-monitoring, it is recommended to purchase electronic automatic tonometer.

If you have an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), using simple electronic blood pressure devices may give false blood pressure readings. Therefore, for people with arrhythmia, electronic automatic tonometers with the function of measuring blood pressure in conditions of cardiac arrhythmia and with an arrhythmia indicator or mechanical tonometers are recommended.

REMEMBER! That once a year instruments must be verified for measurement accuracy.