Careful! You're Measuring Your Blood Pressure WRONG (and It Could Cost You Your Life! ) | 7 Mistakes to AVOID!
Did you know that a small MISTAKE when measuring your blood pressure could be the difference between living well or facing a stroke or even a heart attack? Yes, you could be making a serious mistake when measuring your blood pressure at home, and this mistake could cost you your life — and most people don't even realize it. Hypertension is a silent and dangerous condition, and the way you measure your blood pressure may be deceiving you and hiding a real risk.
Today, I'm going to tell you the most common mistakes that could be sabotaging your health — and at the end of this video, I'm going to give you all the tips for measuring your blood pressure the right way and ensuring that your pressure is being monitored correctly. Do you want to protect your life and the lives of those you love? So stay until the end and discover the details that no one talks about, but that could save your life!
But first, give your thumbs up, subscribe to the channel and activate the bell so you don't miss tips like this. And tell me: do you have the habit of checking your blood pressure? Do you have a device at home?
What part of Brazil or the world are you from? Write it down below. Let's go!
First of all, do you need to check your blood pressure at home, or is it only ok when you see a doctor? Many people think that measuring blood pressure just in the office is enough, but I'm going to show you why this can be a problem. Did you know that blood pressure can vary greatly throughout the day, and in the office, it often does not reflect reality.
And another thing, you also don't go to the doctor every week, let alone twice a week (at least, you shouldn't be going). . .
The stress of being there in the office can make your blood pressure rise, which is called the ' white coat effect. ', can make your blood pressure seem higher, when in fact it is normal in your home…. There are other people who suffer from the opposite, masked hypertension.
They are so calm in the office that their blood pressure drops, but back at home, fighting with their husband, having to run all day, their blood pressure skyrockets. Do you fall into one of these cases? So, you've seen that you shouldn't just check your blood pressure in the office.
It's very little. The interesting thing is that you have your device in your house… Do you have a device at home? Is it wrist?
Is it an arm? Does your husband or wife measure your blood pressure with the same sphygmomanometer as your doctor? Which is the best?
Well, according to the AHA, the two best ones are the digital arm device, or the traditional sphygm device…. I will make it clear that you cannot measure your blood pressure yourself. .
. I am a doctor or nurse, I put on my stethoscope and measure it. The pressure will rise.
Because you will squeeze the pebble, and this causes your pressure to rise. So that doesn't even make it into my top 7 mistakes. The AHA does not recommend wrist braces or finger braces.
Um, do you have the wrist brace? Don't worry, you don't need to throw it away yet. .
. But, if you are measuring your blood pressure with an app that you downloaded on your cell phone and using the light, it measures your blood pressure, that doesn't exist! You were deceived.
. . If you don't have braces, I suggest you buy the arm braces.
It costs around 200 reais, it's worth it, it's money well invested. Cool, you bought the device or have the device. .
. Let's understand the 7 main mistakes you could be making when measuring your blood pressure at home: Mistake number 7: Measuring your blood pressure as soon as you get home, in a hurry! You've just arrived from the pharmacy where you bought the device, you've already opened the box in the garage, sat on the sofa and checked it out.
. . This is a super common mistake, don't laugh.
Do you rush home from work or the street and want to measure your blood pressure? Of course she will be high! The ideal is to wait at least 5 minutes in a calm environment, relax, take a deep breath, and only then measure.
This rest time makes all the difference. Did you know that? From today.
. . these 5 minutes will become part of your routine.
. . Mistake number 6: Checking your blood pressure with your legs crossed Look, this is a mistake that many don't even realize.
When you cross your legs, you are literally forcing your blood pressure to rise. The correct thing to do is to keep your feet completely flat on the floor. I will repeat, your feet must be supported.
So, no legs crossed! Sit upright, in a comfortable chair, with your back against the back and your feet on the floor. Your body needs to be relaxed, and this will ensure an accurate measurement.
Mistake number 5: Talking during the measurement I see this error every day in my office. I go to examine the patient, and he starts talking. .
. I know, you may be excited, wanting to tell everyone that you are taking care of your health, but while the device is measuring, stay silent. Talking during the measurement may change the result.
So, when measuring, stay calm and leave the conversation for later. And also, you shouldn't move, or think about the result! Relax.
. . There are many people who don't want to measure their blood pressure at home because just thinking about measuring it makes the pressure rise.
. . Mistake number 4: Measuring the pressure with a full bladder It may seem strange, but yes, measuring the pressure with a full bladder makes a difference!
When your bladder is full, it can temporarily increase your pressure. So, before putting the device on your arm, take a quick trip to the bathroom! It's a small adjustment that can prevent erroneous readings.
Mistake number 3: Doing physical exercises and measuring it right away Have you just left the gym and want to measure your blood pressure? Or the physiotherapist, the physical education teacher wants to check. Don't do that!
Explain to him or her exercise increases your blood pressure temporarily . And, look, you have to exercise, because in the long term exercise will lower your blood pressure. If you measure it right after exercising, the result will be higher than it actually is.
And you go to your doctor— and say— look doctor, you said that my blood pressure would go down with physical activity, but my blood pressure is high right after training. At home, it was normal. .
. But exercise is raising my blood pressure. .
. I hear that a lot, okay. .
. Yes. .
. wait at least an hour after exercising to take the correct measurement Take the test! You will see that it will go down… Mistake number 2: Drnking coffee or smoking before measuring your blood pressure.
Well, I don't even need to say that cigarettes are bad, right? But if you still smoke, here's a reminder: nicotine increases your blood pressure. But so does caffeine.
Not that caffeine will make you hypertensive. . .
For most people, no. But it will make your blood pressure rise, yes, temporarily. So, wait at least 30 minutes, or more, 1 hour, after smoking or after a cup of coffee to measure your blood pressure.
And, of course, use this as an incentive to quit smoking for good! Mistake number 1: The most common one is the wrongly positioned arm. This is the biggest mistake of all: the arm!
Especially if your device is a wrist device! This is why the AHA does not recommend this type of device. New devices already show whether you are positioning your arm correctly.
What is the right height? It needs to be at heart level. Your arm needs to be supported, with the cuff well adjusted.
This is a very important detail! If the arm is too low or too high, the measurement result may be changed. Therefore, leave your arm at heart level and completely relaxed.
Oh, and the cuff, the part that tightens the arm, needs to be well adjusted. Position the cuff about 2-3 cm above the bend of the elbow, directly on the skin, with no clothing in the way, as your shirt sleeve will interfere with the measurement. The cuff needs to be snug, but not too tight.
And look, the cuff has to be the correct size for your arm. If you are a weightlifter, fighter or obese and put on a small cuff, do you know what will happen? If you can measure it (because in most cases the velcro won't even hold up, it will open everything), the device will measure your pressure as higher than it actually is.
It can give up to 20mm of difference. Look, my blood pressure is fifteen all the time… Your doctor will give you medicine… And it was 13… So you can get it right…. Relax and wait at least 5 minutes before measuring.
Be silent. Sit with your back supported on the chair and both feet on the floor. Your arm should be at heart height and supported on a table or flat surface.
The cuff must be suitable for your arm. 2-3 cm above the bend of the elbow, sleeveless, or jacket in the way…. Now, what about the wrist pressure device?
Is he trustworthy? I'll tell you the truth: the wrist pressure device is not the first choice, including the American Heart Association. These devices may be practical, but their accuracy is a big problem.
Wrist position is more sensitive to small movements and arm posture, which can lead to incorrect readings. But don’t worry, you don’t need to throw away your device just yet! I know the device was expensive.
. . If you already have a wrist device and are wondering if it is measuring correctly, here are some precautions you should take: 1.
Position your wrist correctly at heart level. Then yes, it will make all the difference. If your arm is too low or too high, the result will be inaccurate.
Avoid movement. The slightest movement can affect the reading. 3.
Make comparisons. If you can, take your wrist device to your next doctor's appointment and compare the reading to the reading on his arm device. If the difference is significant, it may be a sign that the wrist device is not being reliable.
4. Consider switching. If your wrist device readings are consistently inconsistent or very different from those in your office, it may be time to invest in an arm device, which is more accurate and reliable.
And as I said, with 200 reais, you buy a good brand, and it will last a long time. And the same goes for your arm device… Did you know that you have to calibrate the device once a year. Every blood pressure device - your doctor's too.
. . Usually has a little seal.
. . Check it next time.
So, if you've had your device for over a year and have never calibrated it, it's time to do that. Calibration is what ensures that the device is measuring correctly! Oh, and always pay attention to the battery.
I have a device at home that started to show inconsistencies with my other one. . .
just change the battery, it's fine. . .
And look, if you have high blood pressure, try to do everything correctly. . .
If you were prescribed medication, take the medication correctly. . .
it's worth it Remember that 55% of stroke cases are directly related to hypertension. And that stroke, or stroke, is the main cause of death in Brazil. It's no joke, guys.
If the pressure is not controlled, the consequences can be fatal. I pulled the ear of a patient last week who came to my office with pressure 180x120… And she said: I don't take medication. I don't feel anything.
I've never taken it, nor have I had a stroke. . .
It's the same thing as crossing the street without looking to the side. You can pass several times without getting run over. But one day you will.
And it will be your fault! Hypertension is a silent condition — it doesn't show signs until it's too late. Therefore, correctly monitoring your blood pressure at home and making lifestyle adjustments is essential to protect yourself.
Incorrect measurements, negligence or lack of treatment can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and even premature death. Now, the good news is that there are many ways to reduce this risk, and it all starts with small changes to your lifestyle. Healthy eating— lots of fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity, weight loss, if you are overweight or obese, reduce sugar, replace salt with light salt (which has 50% potassium)— if you have kidney or potassium problems high, better not.
. . but in other cases, I recommend it, yes.
Of course, managing stress can also make a big difference to your health. So what are you going to do from today? Invest in your health!
Measure your blood pressure correctly, follow the instructions, and if necessary, seek medical help to control your hypertension. Your life and well-being depend on it. If you liked this video, leave a like, subscribe to the channel and share it with someone you love, because these tips can save lives.
Since you've stayed this far, you should take care of yourself, right? Also watch my video on fasting water AND my video on the benefits of beetroot. You will like it!
