Blood pressure is an important measure to determine good health. It is the pressure that is exerted on the heart's artery as blood is pumped through the entire body. This pressure can also be measured in the vein, though the pressure on artery is much more than it on the vein and so it will give a more accurate reading. The pressure may vary because blood does not flow uniformly all the time. At every heart beat, there is a surge and blood gets pushed to the remaining parts of the body.http://www.blood-pressure-updates.com/bp/

There are two kinds of pressure – systolic and diastolic pressure and both are important for the well-being of an individual. Systolic pressure is the pressure that is measured when the heart contracts to pump blood while diastolic pressure is the pressure that is present in the blood vessels between heart beats. It is usually noted as 120/80, where 120 is the systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic pressure. This is the optimal blood pressure recommended by the American Heart Association. However, many factors like age, medication, emotional state of mind and others can play a profound role in the blood pressure at any certain point.

The steps mentioned below will help you to take your blood pressure.

The first step in this process is to ensure that your machine is in proper working condition. You can use either a sphygmomanometer or a blood pressure machine to measure your blood pressure. To start with, you must ensure that the instrument is working fine without any problems. It is a good idea to change the battery frequently as weak batteries may alter the readings.

Errors can occur if the instrument is damaged or is malfunctioning and so this must be checked before using the instrument. Mercury mamometers may malfunction if the mercury is oxidized or if the vent is opened. So, these must be checked.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhatIs.html

Once you check the instrument and find that it is working properly, it is time to understand how to operate it. This is also very important to get the right reading. You must learn to place the instrument in the right way to get accurate readings. Also, it is better to understand the working of the instrument besides the way it has to be used. This can be useful to detect problems.

Once you complete this first step, you are about 30% done with the process. After ascertaining the proper working of the instrument, you can proceed to take the blood pressure.

The next step is to take the blood pressure. This can be done by sitting comfortable in a relaxed position. You must be very calm mentally because the readings may get altered if you are anxious or excited. So, sit in a comfortable position and use your left hand to take the pressure, if you are a right-handed person and vice versa.

If you are using a sphygmomanometer, place the cuff in your left arm. The cuff must be right above your brachial artery that is located in the bend of your elbow. Place the gauge close by so that you can easily read the numbers. If you are also planning to use a stethoscope, then place it on the brachial artery of the elbow. You can put the ends of stethoscope in your ears to hear the heart pulse.

After placing the cuff, squeeze the bulb and pump it until you get to about 180-200mmHg. Then open the valve and look for a Karotkoff sound and note the value at this point. This is the systolic pressure. Wait for a few seconds until you stop hearing the sound and make a note of the value. This is the diastolic pressure.http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4473

Once this step is complete, you are almost done with the process of taking your blood pressure.

The final step is to analyze the readings on your instrument. It should ideally be about 120/80, where 120 is the systolic pressure and 80 is the diastolic pressure. However, this number can vary depending on many factors like your age, medications and your physical problems. It is a good idea to check with these numbers with your doctor. They have the education and experience to determine if everything is right with your pressure. Self-medications based on your analysis is not recommended as it can have serious repercussions on your health later. You may not be able to diagnose it accurately and so you must always check this with your doctor.

The blood pressure will be high if you take it immediately after physical exercise or smoking. Also, it will be different if you have IV s or mastectomy done on the same side. So, you must avoid these things to get a good and accurate measure of your blood pressure.http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-treatment-overview

When you complete this step, you have determined your blood pressure properly and you have also learned if you are in good shape or not. Based on this reading, you must take the steps required to get back in shape or to maintain your health.