MABIS 04-233-001 Manual Book page 4

Instruction manual E&S 7/20/04
What Influences Blood Pressure?
Many factors such as genetics, age, sex, altitude, physical activity,
anxiety, muscular development, certain medications or even the
time of day can influence blood pressure. Influences such as sleep
or relaxation decreases blood pressure, while anxiety or exercise
increases blood pressure.
Why Monitor Your Blood Pressure at Home?
A visit to a physician's office can be a stressful situation for a
patient. And, anxiety is a known factor in raising blood pressure.
This temporary occurrence of elevated blood pressure at the
physician's office is commonly referred to as "white coat
syndrome".
Whether or not you experience "white coat syndrome", home blood
pressure monitoring provides you with the opportunity to
supplement your physician's office measurements. These home
readings, when taken over a period of time, can show an accurate
indication of change. Furthermore, your records can assist your
physician in evaluating your health and in making important
decisions in the diagnosis and treatment of your condition.
Because of this, it is important to take consistent, daily
measurements of your blood pressure.
The variations in your individual readings should only be
interpreted by your physician or a trained health care professional.
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WHO Blood Pressure Classifications
Standards for assessment of high or low blood pressure,
regardless of age, have been established in 1999 by the World
Health Organization (WHO) as shown in the following chart.
CATEGORY
Optimal
Normal
High - Normal
Mild Hypertension
Borderline
Moderate Hypertension
Severe Hypertension
Isolated Systolic Hypertension
Borderline
This chart is only a general guideline. Please contact your
physician to determine your NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE.
Variations in Blood Pressure
Blood pressure can be influenced by many factors. This change
can occur from moment to moment. Normally, blood pressure is
lowest during the sleeping period and rises during the day. The
graph below represents the variations in blood pressure shown
over a day with measurements taken every 5 minutes.
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
PM Time AM
SYSTOLIC DIASTOLIC
(mmHg) (mmHg)
<120 <80
<130 <85
130-139 85-89
140-159 90-99
140-149 90-94
160-179 100-109
≥180 ≥110
≥140
<90
140-149 <90
The dotted line represents
the sleep period. The rise in
blood pressure at 1 p.m.
(A in the graph) corresponds
to a stressful occurrence
sleep
and at 7 p.m. (B in the
graph) a period of exercise.
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