Posted: 10/16/2006 11:57:18 AM EDT
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Right arm or left arm? What are normal differences between them? Should you consider the highest pressure arm to be your pressure? Thanks |
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I'm no medical authority, but I am being treated for Hypertension (high blood pressure) and have taken meds for about 10 years for it. I believe that right hand/left hand dominance has nothing to do with it. It is based on the pathway the blood takes through the veins (away from the heart) and arteries (back to the heart) and the closest path is the LEFT arm. IIRC, there might be some way to determine risk for heart attack (pressure of left arm significantly different than pressure in right arm) because of back-pressure in the arteries that are carrying blood BACK TO your heart. As always, never take medical advice from a PI, see your local doctor or at least Google some websites like WebMD and see what they have to say about it. FYI - When getting treatment, ALWAYS start with the "old standby" drugs first and then work your way up to the new "designer" drugs. When I first started taking meds for my BP, my (former) family doctor (GP - colds and sniffles, etc.) started me out on the drugs that were most expensive, had no generic equivalents, and got the doctor the biggest kick-backs from the pharmaceutical companies because he prescribed them. My NEW doctor (an Internal Medicine Specialist) took me off of my old meds (2 different prescriptions totalling over $220/month) and put me on good old Lisinopril (older than dirt) and only costs $23 per month with BETTER results (115/75). 
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Arteries Away from the heart. Veins drain the body back TO the heart. |
Like I said, don't take medical advice from PI's  "I stand corrected sir..." (Doc Holliday) 
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Doctors definitely do not receive kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies for prescribing drugs. They get pens, notepads, squirt bottles and crap, sometimes a free lunch but that's about it. It is a heavily regulated industry. They do get free samples to give out to patients. I had a serious BP problem, 147/112, (I was only 31 years old, 5'11 and 160 pounds) the resident prescribed Toporol, made me feel like I was stuck in first gear mentally. Swiched to Zestril, (the brand name of linsonopril) It gave me a terrible cough so much that it hurt. Then I went to Altace (the brand name of Ramipril I couldn't sleep when taking it. My new doctor then switched me to an ARB called Diovan, it was expensive but it worked without side effects. Then one day I got married, started eating better and didn't drink so much and less stress in my life, I've been off of BP medicine almost 2 years and I'm good to go. But I did put on a little weight Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise. It doesn't matter which arm you use with the little machines, but make sure it is accurate by comparing its results with an experienced nurse. |
I've heard that getting enough potassium and calcium can make a big difference, but I'm going for the full monty. Gave up fast food (after 15 years of almost daily consumption) and try to run 3+ miles (30 minutes +) three times a week along with weights. Hope it works. |
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I use one of the automatic ones. Just put on the cuff and press a button. It does all the pressure and electronic readings. Not terribly expensive either. They are "pretty" accurate. I've had mine checked by a registered nurse and doctor and then did it myself at home with pretty much same readings. Slight fluctuations could be blamed on stress at doctors office and such. If you test high with an electronic one at home, then I would definitely get checked at a doctors office to be sure. |
It will almost certainly work at least to some extent, if you really stick with it. May not get to 120/80, but it should get you closer depending on how high you started. |
Yep, there are several factors that contribute to high blood pressure, there are some you can control with diet/exercise. Both my parents have been on the medication for a long time, so there may be a genetic component to it, but then again, I know how they eat and how much exercise they get. You are definitely on the right track, it is a difficult lifestyle change. But it pays off, GOOD WORK!!! |