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ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE
What is blood pressure?
When the heart pumps blood around the body, the
blood exerts pressure on the walls of the blood vessels.
This is known as blood pressure.
Blood pressure is different in different parts of the
body and depends on the pulse, how elastic the blood
vessels are and how thick the blood is.
The pressure that can be measured when the heart
pumps the blood out into the body is known as systolic
blood pressure. The pressure that can be measured
when blood runs back from the body towards the heart
is known as diastolic blood pressure.
The two types of blood pressure are usually given
together, with the systolic blood pressure always
given first. If the blood pressure is shown as “120/70”
(pronounced “120 over 70”), it means that the systolic
blood pressure is 120 and the diastolic pressure is 70.
The measurement unit for blood pressure is mmHg
(millimetre mercury), but readings can also be made
using kPa (kilopascal).
Why does blood pressure vary?
Blood pressure varies throughout the day and over a
person’s life. Many different factors affect your blood
pressure, something you should be aware of when
taking your blood pressure. For instance, be aware of
the following:
• Blood pressure is higher during the day than at
night.
• Blood pressure increases slightly after you have just
eaten. A lot of salt in food can also increase blood
pressure.
• Light exercise (e.g. walking and jogging) causes the
systolic blood pressure to rise slightly, while hard
exercise will cause it to rise dramatically. However,
it will fall again when the body relaxes. A lack of
exercise raises blood pressure permanently.
• Blood pressure can increase if you are excited,
stressed or tense.
• Sudden climatic changes can cause blood pressure
to rise.
• The systolic pressure increases with age.
• Women have a greater risk of increased blood
pressure after the menopause.
• Insufficient sleep, smoking, obesity, alcohol and
certain illnesses cause blood pressure to rise.
• Bathing and toilet visits may cause blood pressure
to rise.
• If the cuff is too loose or too tight or not level with
the heart, the measured blood pressure may be
lower than the actual blood pressure.
When is my blood pressure too high or too low?
High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Low
blood pressure is also called hypotension. The table
below provides general guidelines for when your blood
pressure is too high or too low. You should always
consult your doctor for exact readings.
Why should I measure my blood pressure?
Blood pressure rises naturally with age. High blood
pressure can also be the first sign of illness, being
overweight or of the arteries beginning to stiffen, which
increases the risk of blood clots, among other things. It
is therefore a good idea to keep an eye on your blood
pressure and consult a doctor if it seems unusually high
or low. You should write down your measurements so
you can show them to your doctor.
IMPORTANT! Do not use the appliance for medical
diagnosis – only for reference purposes. Consult a
doctor if your blood pressure readings seem abnormal.
Always follow the procedure specified in these user
instructions when taking readings.
PRIOR TO FIRST USE
Inserting the batteries
• Open the battery cover on the back of the
appliance.
• Insert four batteries, size “AA”. Make sure the
batteries are fitted with the correct polarity (see the
markings at the bottom of the battery compartment).
• Replace the cover.
• Change the batteries when the battery symbol is
shown in the display (8).
Range Systolic Diastolic
Very low blood pressure
(hypotension)
Optimum blood pressure
Normal
High normal
Slightly raised blood
pressure
Moderately raised blood
pressure
Seriously raised blood
pressure
< 90 mmHg
< 120 mmHg
120-129 mmHg
130-139 mmHg
140-159 mmHg
160-179 mmHg
> 180 mmHg
< 50 mmHg
< 80 mmHg
80-84 mmHg
85-89 mmHg
90-99 mmHg
100-109 mmHg
> 110 mmHg