Marla
Richmond |
Create
Your Own 7-day Blood Pressure
Monitoring Family Project
TOOLS
& MATERIALS:
-
A
sphygmomanometer
(electronic blood pressure
monitor); purchase the best
one that the family can afford.
Make
sure the cuff is an appropriate
size. Individuals who are
significantly above or below
"average" height or weight
should probably not use a
standard-sized cuff, which
is meant to be used for average
sized people, and may produce
an inaccurate reading. Below
are the some helpful guidelines:
- Arm circumference 22
to 26 cm, 'small adult'
cuff, 12 x 22 cm
- Arm circumference 27
to 34 cm, 'adult' cuff:
16 x 30 cm
- Arm circumference 35
to 44 cm, 'large adult'
cuff: 16 x 36 cm
- Arm circumference 45
to 52 cm, 'adult thigh'
cuff; 16 x 42
|
- Poster Materials
- Poster board, construction paper,
graph paper, pencils, markers, and
a ruler
INSTRUCTIONS
Each
family member will:
- design
and creatively decorate a personalized
poster onto which
his/her 7-day blood pressure monitoring
graph is to be mounted.
- take
his/her blood pressure in the morning
upon awakening before
activity and eating to get a baseline
blood pressure measurement. If that
is not possible, then blood pressure
must be taken no less than one hour
after exercising or consuming food,
caffeine or alcohol. (no less than)
-
keep a daily record of both the systolic
and diastolic blood pressure measurements
and enter them on the graph. Different
colored markers must be used to distinguish
the two measurements.
-
leave a space for comments
on the graph paper next to each blood
pressure measurement entry
Why Comments?
Several factors may influence
any given blood pressure reading.
Such factors include, but are not limited
to, diet, the consumption of caffeine
or alcohol, exercise, stress and resulting
emotional reactions, sleep patterns,
digestion, medications, and hormonal
environment. For example, if a student
is sleep-deprived and nervous about
an exam at school, his or her blood
pressure readings may be higher than
normal. That should be noted.
*Blood
pressure is measured:
- with the
individual seated comfortably with
both feet on the floor, and after
allowing at least 10 minutes to relax
and adjust to the room temperature
and environment
- on a relaxed,
uncovered arm that is supported at
the level of the heart; only the part
of the arm where the blood pressure
cuff is fastened need to be at heart
level
- using
a cuff that is wrapped comfortably
all the way around the upper part
of the arm with the arrow at the front
of the elbow crease.
- by pressing
a button at which time the cuff will
inflate to a particular level and
then automatically deflate. A read-out
of the blood pressure measurement
will appear on the screen.
*During that week, if any family member's
blood pressure readings are repeatedly
higher than normal (as indicated on the
chart above), the family physician must
be contacted.
There are no laws that regulate yours
or your family members' conduct with
regard to managing your wellness. Therefore,
it is up to you to choose to practice
body cell safety. Some suggestions -
- buckle your seatbelt and drive carefully,
monitor your blood pressure, and live
actively. After all, eventually all
of your choices do in fact become you!
Marla Richmond, M.S., Exercise Physiologist/Author
of The
Physiology Storybook: An Owner's Manual
for the Human Body, 2nd ed.
Order directly from AAHPERD
or from the author - Marla
Richmond (order form)
resources:
|
