Posts

A&D Medical In The News

/in /by

Tracking Blood Pressure: A&D Medical’s Monitors Used by Prime Minister and in Virtual Wards

We at A&D Medical are thrilled to see our blood pressure monitoring products making headlines recently, from the Prime Minister’s visit to a pharmacy in Southampton, to the use of our blood pressure monitors in virtual wards.

As you may have heard, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a visit to a local pharmacy in May 2023 to get his blood pressure checked. The Prime Minister was seen using an A&D Medical blood pressure monitor. We are proud to see our products being trusted by public figures like the Prime Minister, as well as in the NHS to manage health.

Virtual wards allow healthcare providers to remotely monitor and care for patients using telehealth technology. This approach helps reduce the risk of hospital readmissions and provides timely interventions and coordinated care. Our BPMs have been used in virtual wards to remotely monitor patients’ blood pressure and alert healthcare providers to any changes or potential issues.

At A&D Medical, we are dedicated to providing accurate and reliable blood pressure monitoring solutions to help individuals and healthcare providers manage cardiovascular health. We are thrilled to see our products being used in a range of settings, from pharmacies to virtual wards, to support better health outcomes.

If you are interested in learning more about our blood pressure monitors and other healthcare products, please visit our website at www.andmedical.com.

6 Ways to Reduce Hypertension: World Hypertension Day

/in /by

Are you aware of the impact hypertension can have on your health?

May 17th marks World Hypertension Day, a global initiative to raise awareness of hypertension and promote hypertension prevention, detection, and control. 

Over 30% of the adult population in the world and more than a billion individuals worldwide suffer from hypertension. It is the main cause of heart disorders, especially coronary artery disease, and stroke. Additionally, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and dementia can all result from uncontrolled hypertension. Therefore, information regarding this illness should be shared widely. 

140/90mmHg or over – you may have high blood pressure

Most doctors use 140/90mmHg as the cut off for point for diagnosing high blood pressure (hypertension). This is the stage where the likelihood of encountering severe health issues escalates. They might prescribe medications and advise you to make changes to your lifestyle to bring your blood pressure down.

There are many ways to prevent hypertension, some ways include:

  • Get regular exercise 
  • Reduce salt intake 
  • Learn to manage tension or stress 
  • Take a well-balanced diet rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium 
  • Limiting alcohol consumption  
  • Avoiding tobacco use  

3 things to consider when choosing a home blood pressure monitor

Considerations include style, features and wireless capabilities

  • Style. Upper arm monitors are similar to those used in a doctor’s office. Wrist monitors are especially portable.
  • Features. Options range from simple ease of use to high-tech sophistication. One-touch monitors give a quick and easy-to-read result. Other monitors offer more features like built-in memory, which allows you to store your readings for a bigger long-term picture.
  • Wireless/Bluetooth®. Some monitors sync with a smartphone letting you store, chart and share your results easily.

5 things to know about checking your blood pressure at home

Tips from the British Heart Foundation :

  • Relax! Avoid caffeine or exercise 30 minutes before taking your BP.
  • Sit correctly. Sit with your back straight and supported. Keep your feet flat and avoid crossing your legs, and support your arms on a flat surface with your upper arm at the level of your heart.
  • Measure at the same time every day. Try morning and evening, or both.
  • Take more than one reading and record the results. Take two or three readings, one minute apart each time.
  • Don’t take the measurement over thick or tight-fitting clothes. This one is simple.

For more information check out our previous blog post How to Measure Your Blood Pressure from Home | A&D Instruments UK (andprecision.com)

How A&D Medical can help

At A&D Medical, we are dedicated to improving hypertension awareness and management through our blood pressure monitoring solutions. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death globally. Regular blood pressure monitoring is essential for understanding and managing hypertension. Our products include a range of blood pressure monitors, including wireless and other options, to suit a variety of needs and lifestyles. 

To support World Hypertension Day, we encourage everyone to check their blood pressure and spread awareness about hypertension in their communities.  

If you are interested in learning more about our blood pressure monitors, please visit our range of products.  

Blood Pressure Being Monitored

Monitoring Blood Pressure at Home Can Be a Better Alternative Than Checking at Your Doctor

/in /by

Blood pressure monitoring is one of the most common activities in a medical practice.  Patients that have been diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, all require continuous blood pressure monitoring.  However, high blood pressure can also be checked at home.  In fact, a recent study showed that monitoring blood pressure at home for two days can be a much better alternative to costlier methods of multiple visits to a doctor or clinician.

The Study

The study1Devereux G, Gibney D, Fadhlillah F, et al Two-day home blood pressure monitoring may offer an alternative to costlier methods BMJ Innovations 2018;4:84-90. assessed that performing 20 measurements of blood pressure in two days can offer a stable and reliable representation of the resting diastolic and systolic blood pressure of the patients. 

The researchers determined that 10 readings of blood pressure everyday are as statistically representative as 15 readings each day.  They believed that an increased frequency of blood pressure reading and decreased duration might offer a more stable and realistic representation of the resting blood pressure of the patients.

The results showed that the reading of 10 blood pressure measurements in 2 days did offer a pragmatic and stable approach towards monitoring blood pressure at home.  The results indicated that it can be a better alternative for patients rather than costlier methods of monitoring blood pressure at a clinician or surgery.

Blood Pressure Readings

In order to take the right blood pressure readings at home, it is important that you understand how it works.  The blood pressure is taken in two numbers – diastolic (bottom number) and systolic (top number).  For example, if you have a 120/80 mm Hg blood pressure, it would be read as 120 over 80.

Aside from this, there are seven classifications of BP and definitions of hypertension, as per the most recent ESH/ESC Guidelines2European Heart Journal, Volume 39, Issue 33, 01 September 2018, Pages 3021–3104, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy339published in European Heart Journal, Volume 39, Issue 33, 01 September 2018.  These categories are:

Category    Systolic (mmHg)  Diastolic (mmHg) 
Optimal  <120  <80 
Normal  120–129  80–84 
High normal  130–139  85–89 
Grade 1 hypertension  140–159  90–99 
Grade 2 hypertension  160–179  100–109 
Grade 3 hypertension  ≥180  ≥110 
Isolated systolic hypertensionb  ≥140  <90 

Table: Classification of office blood pressure and definitions of hypertension grade

The condition of hypertensive crisis is extremely serious and needs medical attention.  If you have a high blood pressure and are experiencing symptoms such as speaking difficulty, vision problems, weakness, numbness, back pain, breathing difficulty, or chest pain then you must immediately call for emergency medical assistance.

The Benefits of Home Monitoring

Monitoring your blood pressure at home has numerous advantages, including enhanced reproducibility, cost effectiveness, and improved tolerance.  It is even considered to provide more accurate readings as compared to the blood pressure readings taken in doctor’s offices.

Regular home monitoring helps in reducing the risk of hypertension, and also encourages patients to take charge of their health and become more involved in their long-term care, instead of solely relying on a doctor’s visit. Moreover, it also helps patients to learn to manage their blood pressure by adapting a healthier lifestyle, thereby enhancing their overall health.