I take the blood pressure test every time I go to Wal-Mart. Tell me, what does Stage One Prehypertension mean?

Question

I believe that I am in good health, because last night at Wal-Mart, I took the test. The answer was 118 over 93. But my pulse rate was zero. It was a brand new machine in a brand new Wal-Mart. I should be dead.

Answer 1

If you wrote this, your pulse rate is higher than 0.

Learn to take your pulse
Step 1
Turn your left hand palm-side up, then place the first two fingers of your right hand along the outer edge of your left wrist just below where your wrist and thumb meet.

Step 2
Slide your fingers toward the center of your wrist. You should feel the pulse between the wrist bone and the tendon.

Step 3
Press down with our fingers until you feel your pulse. Do not press too hard, or you will not be able to feel the pulsation. Feel free to move your fingers until the pulse is easiest to feel.

Step 4
Continue to feel your pulse for a full minute. Concentrate on whether the beats are evenly spaced, or whether they are erratic, with missed beats, extra beats, or beats that are too close together.

Buy a blood pressure machine ( http://www.walmart.com/catalog/search-ng.gsp?search_constraint=0&search_query=blood+pressure&ic=20_0 _ ) and learn how to use it.

Go to a Dr. or nurse to have them take your BP.

The new guidelines feature a new category, called “prehypertension,” a reading that covers about 22 percent of American adults or about 45 million people. This new prehypertension level describes people with a reading of 120 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg. According to NHLBI research, those in the prehypertension range are more likely to move into the hypertension range where medication is required. At this early stage, most physicians advise lifestyle changes, such as cutting sodium and adding more physical activity to lower the levels.
http://www.durhamregional.org/healthlibrary/consumer_health/bloodpressure

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Stage one means that your lower reading was over 80 and your blood pressure should be monitored. Your upper reading can change dramatically based on emotions, activity, etc. but your bottom reading should not exceed 80. I have had borderline hypertension for years because my bottom reading was over 80. I am on medication but one reading does not mean you have hypertension (high blood pressure.). Also my doctor advised me to never go near blood pressure machines in any store. The cuff often does not fit correctly because the cuff is designed to accomodate all size arms. People vary quite a bit in size and in a blood pressure machine one size does not fit all. If the squeeze is too tight, your reading will be off. If the squeeze was not tight enough, the reading will be off. Best to see a doctor, have a reading done and discuss if you have a problem but stay away from the "universal machines." The fact that your pulse was zero probably means the machine was defective. 0 pulse...dead.

Answer 4

Once or twice, but it was due to the person that came with me and not the store or the employees. I couldn't say for sure that my blood pressure went up. I never use those blood pressure machines. I don't think the Wal-Mart I go to even has one. The atmosphere at Wal-mart is relatively relaxed.

Answer 5

Your diastolic (bottom number) is a little high. The systolic (top number) is excellent at 118. However, those machines are not always accurate. I would get it checked at the doctor's office. They will have a more accurate machine and they can interpret the results and make any recommendations that might be necessary.

Answer 6

Either the machine is defective or the docs will have a field day at your expenses?

Answer 7

You should disregard this reading, of course. Once they have been calibrated, these machines are amazingly accurate though. Keep track of it.