National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - May 2003. WHo Classification table – for adults outside of the U.S. (e.g. Canada, mexico) Bp Classification Systolic (mmHg) Diastolic (mmHg) Optimal less than 120 and less than 80 Normal less than 130 or less than 85 High-Normal 130-139 or 85-89 Stage 1 Hypertension 140-159 or 90-99 Stage 2 Hypertension 160-179 or 100-109 Stage 3 Hypertension greater thanor equal to 180 or greaterthan or equal to 110 SoUrCE: Standards to assess high blood pressure, without regard to age or gender, have been established by the World Health Organization (WHO). LifeSource Health Line (toll-Free): 1-888-726-9966 ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE What is Hypertension? Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the diagnosis given when readings consistently rise above normal. It is well known that hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack or other illness if left untreated. Referred to as a “silent killer” because it does not always producesymptoms that alert you to the problem, hypertension is treatablewhen diagnosed early. Can Hypertension Be Controlled? In many individuals, hypertension can be controlled by alteringlifestyle and minimizing stress, and by appropriate medicationprescribed and monitored by your doctor. The American HeartAssociation recommends the following lifestyle suggestions to prevent or control hypertension: Don’t smoke. Exercise routinely. reduce salt and fat intake. Have regular physical checkups. maintain proper weight. monitor your blood pressure at periodic intervals Why measure Blood pressure at Home? It is now well known that, for many individuals, blood pressure readings taken in a doctor’s office or hospital setting might be elevatedas a result of apprehension and anxiety. This response is commonlycalled “white coat hypertension.” In any case, self-measurement athome supplements your doctor’s readings and provides a more accurate, complete blood pressure history. In addition, clinical studies haveshown that the detection and treatment of hypertension is improvedwhen patients both consult their physicians and monitor their ownblood pressure at home. in Canada - auto Control medical (toll-Free): 1-800-461-0991 ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE answers to Why Your readings are Different Between Home and at the Doctor’s office Why are my readings different between home and at a doctor’s office? Your blood pressure readings taken in a doctor’s office or hospitalsetting may be elevated as a result of apprehension and anxiety. Thisresponse is known as White Coat Hypertension. When I bring my monitor to a doctor’s office, why do I get a different measurement from my monitor to that taken by a doctor or nurse? The healthcare professional may be using a different sized cuff. Thesize of the bladder inside the cuff is critical for the accuracy of themeasurement. This may give you a different reading. A cuff too largewill produce a reading that is lower than the correct blood pressure; a cuff that is too small will produce a reading that is higher than thecorrect blood pressure. There may also be other factors that can causethe difference in measurements. Keys to Successful monitoring: Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. We recommend thatyou are consistent in your daily measurement routine: • Measure at the same time every day. • Sit in the same chair/position. • Do not cross legs and keep your feet flat on the floor. • Relax for 5 minutes before measurement. • Use the correct cuff size to get an accurate reading. • Sit still during measurement – no talking, eating or sudden movements. • Record your measurement in a logbook. LifeSource Health Line (toll-Free): 1-888-726-9966 ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE Establishing Baseline measurements The most important method to get an accurate blood pressure measurement is consistency. To get the most benefit out of your monitor, itis important to establish a “baseline measurement.” This helps builda foundation of measurements that you can use to compare againstfuture readings. To build this baseline measurement, devote twoweeks for consistent blood pressure monitoring. This involves doingeverything the same way when you measure (e.g. measuring duringthe same time of day, in the same location, sitting in the same chair, using the same cuff, etc.). Once you establish your baseline measurement, you can start evaluating if your measurement has been affectedbased on lifestyle changes or medication treatment. How Do i record my Blood pressure? Blood pressure readings are typically recorded with the systolic pressure written first, followed by a slash mark and the diastolic pressure. For example, 120 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic measurements are written as 120/80. Pulse is simply written with the letter“P” followed by the pulse rate—P 72, for example. Please see the backof the manual for the blood pressure tracking record. Customer Support tools online Additional tools are available (in Canada -to help you get...