Doctor’s visits are a normal routine to maintain physical health as we age, but as we grow older our blood pressure may be higher and our heart may need a little help. When the doctor has prescribed treatments, he or she will want to know that these treatments are working, and you will want to know if your new routine is on track. Keep track of your progress at home with personal blood and heart rate monitors.
Monitoring Your Blood Pressure
Blood pressure monitors are readily available and easy to use. Find a good one and then take it with you to your next doctor’s visit. He or she will make sure that you are using it correctly and the results are the same or close to their results.
By taking your blood pressure regularly, you will be able to see if the treatment the doctor prescribed is working. If your blood pressure becomes slightly elevated, there could be other medical conditions causing the increases, which would help your doctor with future diagnoses.
Daily or weekly checking of your blood pressure also encourages a stronger sense of control over your own health.
Not everyone should check their blood pressure at home. If you have an irregular heartbeat, the monitor may not give an accurate reading.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Using a heart rate monitor allows you to measure your heartbeat as well as your pulse. If the daily results begin to differ drastically, then it may be time to call your doctor.
These monitors are simple devices that can be worn as a watch. If you have health conditions or are worried about staying fit, then monitoring your vital signs at home will give you that extra peace of mind.
If you have had heart difficulties, then using a heart monitor will be beneficial. It will clearly let you know how your heart is responding to different levels of activity, something your doctor will also want to know. You can look at this monitor as your personal trainer as it can tell you to either increase or decrease certain activities – which, in turn, will encourage you to keep exercising for your fitness plan in a safe manner.
Your heart can recover faster with certain exercises (discuss exercises with your doctor first). The monitors will help and give you more information on the condition of your cardiovascular system.
As we age, we may not feel the need to train for marathons anymore, but daily exercise with the aid of monitors empowers us to take care of our health.
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you Cochrane Denture Centre for helping to expand local news coverage in Alberta. Learn more.
