13/08/2020
Always check your blood pressure.
Young people can have stroke, heart attack, kidney damage or sudden death. It’s not a spiritual arrow from village.
Sometimes it’s just uncontrolled blood pressure.
If you have not checked in last 6months,
Check your BP today.
Blood pressure monitoring is not hard. Infact you don’t have to go to hospital everytime just to check your BP.
You can get your own BP machine.
Buy at any pharmacy/health store.
Do your own BP at home.
Read the manual/tell the store assistant to put you through how it’s used.
Blood pressure taken at home should be done ideally when you are relaxed and not stressed. Could be morning or evening.
The readings have a top and bottom number.
Normal blood pressure is between 90/60 and 140/90. If it is lower/higher than that range, repeat it in a few mins.
If still lower than 90/60 despite repeating after few mins, but you don’t feel dizzy, lightheaded or fainting; call a doctor for advice. Sometimes it’s due to a medication you are taking, sometimes it’s due to heavy periods as a woman, sometimes you need to drink more water.
If lower than 90/60 and you feel faint, dizzy and lighthearted, go to hospital straightaway.
If higher than 140/90, repeat after few minutes. If still higher than that, what you do next depends on how high.
If higher than 180/120, go straight to a hospital. That’s an emergency.
If higher than 140/90 twice;
What you need to do is:
Don’t panic
Do the BP twice a day for 7days.
Morning and evening when relaxed.
Write down the readings.
After 7days,
Look at the average or give a doctor.
If the average is consistently over 135/85, you may have hypertension.
So if that’s the case,
Go speak with a doctor.
He will check your eyes, check your urine, do some blood tests, do an ECG (electrical activity of your heart), and repeat the BP.
He will then start you on some medications and/or advise lifestyle changes as well as monitor the BP.