Blood Pressure Monitor

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I have gotten to the point where I have to monitor my blood pressure each day. Last month I went to ER scared that I might be having a stroke. My blood pressure had been high at an earlier doctor’s appointment. Later that evening after dinner, I started to get a bad headache. Sometimes I get a headache if my sugar gets a bit high. Checking my sugar it was in the normal range. I had a wrist blood pressure monitor that said my pressure was 189/94. My tongue started getting numb and I was also becoming nauseated. I had my husband take me to the hospital.

Arriving at the hospital, the triage nurse tested me for all the signs of a stroke. Making sure I was alert, could grab her hand, could talk without slurring. My blood pressure had come down by the time it was tested again. After the ER doctor thoroughly examined me, I was sent home, and diagnosed with a hypertension episode. Some symptoms of a hypertension episode include headache, shortness of breath, altered mental status, chest pain, changes in vision, decreased urine output, and vomiting. I was told that I needed to start monitoring my blood pressure daily and make an appointment with the blood pressure clinic.

This was all very scary for me, as I have always had low blood pressure due to my sickle cell anemia. Several times at the doctor my pressure was higher than normal. This made me buy a wrist blood pressure monitor and occasionally check my pressure. It was always in the normal range under 130. Each time at the doctors office I was in the 140. I expressed to them that I did not understand the big difference in the pressure readings. They explained to me that I should be using an arm cuff monitor that is much more accurate that a wrist monitor. They recommended an Omron Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. This is the monitor I purchased.

I now keep track of my blood pressure daily. I have been diagnosed with proteinuria due to diabetes. This is what is causing my hypertension. I have also had to start on Losartan. I am hoping to get off of that with additional exercise and changes to my diet.

If you are using a wrist monitor, consider using an arm cuff if your results differ greatly from your doctors office results. My results had a difference of 20 points.

I have also been reading that beets and beet juice help to lower blood pressure. Here are some items to try!

Thank you for reading.