Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home

Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home

When should I check my blood pressure?

Follow your doctor's instructions for when and how often to check your blood pressure. Keep in mind that certain factors can cause blood pressure to temporarily rise. Blood pressure normally rises as a result of:

• Stress
• Smoking
• Cold temperatures
• Exercise
• A full stomach
• Full bladder
• Caffeine
• Certain medicines

Avoid any of these factors you can when taking your blood pressure. Also try measuring your blood pressure at about the same time each day.

Before taking your blood pressure

• Find a quiet place. You will need to listen for your heartbeat.
• Roll up the sleeve on your left arm or remove any tight-sleeved clothing, if needed. (It's best to take your blood pressure from your left arm if you are right-handed.You can use the other arm if you have been told by your health care provider to do so.)
• Rest in a chair next to a table for 5 to 10 minutes. (Your left arm should rest comfortably at heart level.)
• Sit up straight with your back against the chair, legs uncrossed and on the ground.
• Rest your forearm on the table with the palm of your hand facing up.
• You should not talk, read the newspaper, or watch television during this process.

Taking your blood pressure

If you purchase a manual or digital blood pressure monitor (sphygmomanometer), follow the instruction booklet carefully. The following steps provide an overview of how to take your blood pressure on either a manual or digital blood pressure monitor.

1. Locate your pulse

Locate your pulse by lightly pressing your index and middle fingers slightly to the inside center of the bend of your elbow. Here you can feel the pulse of the brachial artery. If you cannot locate your pulse, place the head of the stethoscope (on a manual monitor) or the arm cuff (on a digital monitor) in the same general area.

2. Secure the cuff

• Thread the cuff end through the metal loop and slide the cuff onto your arm, making sure that the stethoscope head is over the artery (when using a manual monitor.) The cuff may be marked with an arrow to show the location of the stethoscope head. The lower edge of the cuff should be about 1 inch above the bend of your elbow. Use the Velcro®wrap to make the cuff snug, but not too tight.
• Place the stethoscope in your ears. Tilt the ear pieces slightly forward to get the best sound.

3. Inflate and deflate the cuff

If you are using a manual monitor:

• Hold the pressure gauge in your left hand and the bulb in your right (As shown.)
• Close the airflow valve on the bulb by turning the screw clockwise.
• Inflate the cuff by squeezing the bulb with your right hand. You may hear your pulse in the stethoscope.
• If your monitor does not have automatic inflation, watch the gauge and Keep inflating the cuff until the gauge reads about 30 points (mm Hg) above your expected systolic pressure. At this point, you should not hear your pulse in the stethoscope.
• Keeping your eyes on the gauge, slowly release the pressure in the cuff by opening the airflow valve counter clockwise. The gauge should fall only 2 to 3 points with each heartbeat. (You may need to practice turning the valve slowly.)
• Listen carefully for the first pulse beat. As soon as you hear it, note the reading on the gauge. This reading is your systolic pressure.
• Continue to slowly deflate the cuff.
• Listen carefully until the sound disappears. As soon as you can no longer hear your pulse beat, note the reading on the gauge. This reading is your diastolic pressure.
• Allow the cuff to completely deflate.

Digital blood pressure monitor

Manual blood pressure monitor

IMPORTANT: If you released the pressure too quickly or could not hear your pulse DO NOT inflate the cuff right away. Wait one minute before repeating the measurement. Start by reapplying the cuff.

If you are using a digital monitor:

• Hold the bulb in your right hand.
• Press the power button. All display symbols should appear briefly, followed by a zero. This indicates that the monitor is ready.
• Inflate the cuff by squeezing the bulb with your right hand. If you have a monitor with automatic cuff inflation, press the start button.
• Watch the gauge. Keep inflating the cuff until the gauge reads about 30 points (mm Hg) above your expected systolicpressure.
• Sit quietly and watch the monitor.
• Pressure readings will be displayed on the screen. For some devices, values may appear on the left, then on the right. Most devices will also display your pulse rate.
• Wait for a long beep. This means that the measurement is complete. Note the pressures on the display screen. Systolic pressure appears on the left and diastolic pressure on the right. Your pulse rate may also be displayed in between or after this reading.
• Allow the cuff to deflate.

Important: If you did not get an accurate reading, DO NOT inflate the cuff right away. Wait one minute before repeating the measurement. Start by reapplying the cuff.

4. Record your blood pressure.

Follow your doctor's instructions on when and how often you should measure your blood pressure. Take at least two readings each time you check your blood pressure. Record the date, time, systolic and diastolic pressures, heart rate, and the arm in which you checked your blood pressure.

How to Get Beautiful, Glowing Skin

How to Get Beautiful, Glowing Skin

Do you long for a naturally gorgeous complexion? Do you wish that you had absolutely beautiful, glowing skin? Follow along after the jump to learn how to nurture and protect your skin so that it looks amazing as soon as you wake up in the morning.

Method 1 of 3: Building a Routine

1. 
   1
   Wash your face at night.. Over the course of the day, makeup, dirt, and oil build up on your face. Make cleansing your skin part of your bedtime routine.

   • Use makeup remover. Not only does this prevent it from clogging up your pores and causing breakouts while you sleep, it also stops you from smearing bacteria on your pillow — where it can get into your skin night after night.
   • Use a gentle soap. Remember that you want to clean your skin, not completely strip it of all oils — if it feels tight and dry after washing, you're using something too strong.
   • Avoid the eye area; the skin around the eye can be too delicate for most cleansers.
   • Rinse off by splashing water on your face. Using a washcloth or rag to roughly wipe your skin clean can irritate it more. Instead, bend your face over the sink, cup your hands together, and bring up small amounts of water to splash over your face. About 10 splashes should do it.
   • Pat dry. Don't roughly rub your skin dry with a towel. Instead, dry it with small, gentle pats or let it air dry.
2. 
   2
   Apply toner. A toner removes excess oil and dirt from your skin that the soap missed, in addition to closing your pores. Not everyone needs to use a toner, but some people find it helpful.

   • Put a few drops onto a cotton ball or pad. Swipe it lightly over your skin.
   • Only use astringent if your skin is exceptionally oily. Astringent is a stronger type of toner that can be up to 60% alcohol. If your skin tends to be dry, using astringent could actually cause acne by driving your oil glands to overcompensate.
   • Witch hazel is a natural alternative to buying synthetic toner/astringent.
   • Consider applying toner to only the areas of your skin that tend to break out. For instance, you might only use it on your nose or forehead.
3. 
   3
   Smooth on some moisturizer. Using lotion in the morning acts as a primer for your makeup, helping it "stick" to your face throughout the day. Moisturizing at night helps your skin repair itself and stave off wrinkles. Bottom line, it's one of the best things you can do for glowing skin over the long term.

   • Consider using a lighter moisturizer during the day. If you're prone to breakouts, save the heavy cream moisturizer for nighttime and use a light or gel moisturizer during the day.
   • Don't forget your neck and décolletage. These areas can get super dry and irritated if you never moisturize them.
4. 
   4
   Exfoliate once a week. If your skin tends to be dry and flaky, a weekly exfoliation can clear out dead skin cells. Find an exfoliant that has a super fine grain, and don't rub it roughly into your skin — use light pressure and gentle motions.

   • A simple scrub of sugar mixed with honey makes a great exfoliator. Rinse it off with warm water.
   • You could also exfoliate with a dry brush made for the face. Brush your face using small, circular motions.
5. 
   5
   Protect your skin from the sun. Avoid leathery, tough skin by applying a light sunscreen every time you plan to be outside. The lack of sun damage will keep your skin dewy and supple for years to come. Remember, it only takes 15 minutes to get a sunburn, so be prepared.

   • Stick to SPF 30 — anything higher doesn't have much more benefit.
   • Search the makeup aisle for spray-on sunscreens that are light and dry.
   • Use a foundation or tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, so your face is already covered.

Method 2 of 3: Dealing With Acne

1. 
   1
   Prevent acne before it starts. Here are some small daily-life hacks you can use to prevent pimples before they happen:

   • Change out your pillowcase every four or five days. A fresh, bacteria-free pillowcase can stop your skin from erupting overnight.
   • Keep your hands off your face. If you tend to rest your chin in your palm, or you're constantly fussing with your face, stop. The oils on your hands can cause breakouts, even in small amounts.
   • Tie your hair back while you sleep. If you have long hair, keep it off your face while you rest. Braid it back, and use pins or a headband to keep bangs off your forehead.
   • Get your beauty rest. Stress can lead to breakouts, so make sure you're well-rested and calm.
   • Change your birth control (females). Some oral contraceptives containing estrogen can calm down regular breakouts. Ask your doctor if this is the right choice for you.
2. 
   2
   Do not pick or pop pimples. Doing so can make the infection worse and lead to permanent scarring.
3. 
   3
   See a dermatologist. If you can't get the problem under control by yourself, visit a doctor. He or she can prescribe serious treatments such as Accutane, Retin-A or red-blue light treatments.
4. 
   4
   Consider a salicylic acid face wash. Some anti-acne face cleansers contain salicylic acid, which kills the bacteria that can cause acne.

   • To prevent drying out your face, start using a salicylic acid wash only in the mornings and see if that's sufficient. If you still need more help, use it at night as well.
5. 
   5
   Use spot treatments. There are several products that you can dab onto active zits to reduce redness and kill bacteria. Two of the most popular are salicylic acid gel and benzoyl peroxide cream.

   • For extra help, try using both formulations.
   • Be aware that benzoyl peroxide can bleach hair and clothing.

Method 3 of 3: Eating Healthy and Exercising

1. 
   1
   Drink up. Aim to get 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. The water will clear your skin and make it glow because it makes it easier for your body to flush out toxins quickly.

   • Carry a water bottle with you all day to make sure you always have water on hand.
   • Drink herbal tea or other non-caffeinated beverages to hydrate when you're tired of water.
2. 
   2
   Eat a healthy diet. Healthy proteins and nutritious fruits and vegetables go a long way toward making skin glow. Add these elements to your diet to see quick results:

   • Omega 3 fatty acids. These are found in fish and walnuts, and are especially beneficial to your skin.
   • Vitamin C. This will help existing pimples heal faster, so eating a few servings of citrus fruits and spinach will help.
   • Fiber-rich foods. Fresh vegetables, nuts, and unprocessed fruit helps keep a fine balance and to be regular, not sluggish, in the gastrointestinal area. You may look and feel tired and sickly (headache and abdominal complaints), if you do not have regularity of elimination/movements once or more every day.
3. 
   3
   Eat less sugar and salt. Try to consume less than 45g of sugar on a daily basis, and cut down on salty foods. Eating too much salt can make your face look bloated.
4. 
   4
   Take vitamins. If you're worried you aren't getting enough of necessary vitamins and minerals, try taking a multivitamin. Vitamins intended for pregnant women are especially beneficial to the skin.
5. 
   5
   Work out. Cardio makes your skin glow because it stimulates blood flow. It's also healthy for your body and will make you stronger. You'll see results immediately and long term, too.

Honey: Health Benefits and Uses In Medicine

Honey is a sweet liquid produced by honey bees using nectar from flowers through a process of regurgitation and evaporation.

This MNT Knowledge Center article includes a brief history of honey in traditional medicine and explains some of its potential health benefits.

The possible health benefits of consuming honey have been documented in early Greek, Roman, Vedic, and Islamic texts and the healing qualities of honey were referred to by philosophers and scientists all the way back to ancient times, such as Aristotle (384 - 322 BC) and Aristoxenus (320 BC).

Honey has high levels of monosaccharides, fructose and glucose, containing about 70 to 80 percent sugar, which gives it its sweet taste - minerals and water make up the rest of its composition.

Honey also possesses antiseptic and antibacterial properties. In modern science, we have managed to find useful applications of honey in chronic wound management.

However, it should be noted that many of honey's health claims still require further rigorous scientific studies to confirm them.

The possible health benefits of honey

Honey has been consumed for thousands of years for its supposed health benefits.

Modern science is finding that many of the historical claims that honey can be used in medicine may indeed be true. In the Bible (Old Testament), King Solomon said, "My son, eat thou honey, for it is good", and there are a number of reasons why it may be good.

1) Acid reflux

Professor Mahantayya V Math, from MGM Medical College, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, India, explained in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) that, as it is 125.9 more viscous than distilled water at 37 celsius (body temperature), honey may be helpful in preventing GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux).³

2) Infantile gastroenteritis

E. Haffejee and A. Moosa reported in the BMJ on a clinical study in which they used honey in oral rehydration solution in children and infants with gastroenteritis. Their aim was twofold:

• Determine whether honey might affect the duration of acute diarrhea
• Evaluate honey as a glucose substitute in oral rehydration

They found that honey shortens the duration of bacterial diarrhea in infants and young children.⁴ They added that honey does not prolong non-bacterial diarrhea duration, and "may safely be used as a substitute for glucose in oral rehydration solution containing electrolytes."

3) Healing wounds and burns

There have been some cases in which people have reported positive effects of using honey in treating wounds.

There have been some cases in which people have reported positive effects of using honey in treating wounds. Hurlburt, a borderline diabetic, with recurring cellulitis and staph infections tried taking antibiotics for months. However, they failed to alleviate the symptoms. Hulburt's physician, Jennifer Eddy of UW Health's Eau Claire Family Medicine Clinic, suggested that she should try topically applying honey. Soon after applying the honey, she began to feel better.

Hulburt said that she remembered thinking "holy mackerel-what a difference. It's a lot better than having to put oral antibiotics into your system."

A review published in The Cochrane Library indicated that honey may be able to help heal burns, the lead author of the study said that "topical honey is cheaper than other interventions, notably oral antibiotics, which are often used and may have other deleterious side effects."

However, it should be stressed that there is a lack of evidence to fully support this claim. In fact, a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases concluded that applying medical grade honey to wounds of patients has no advantage over normal antibiotic among patients undergoing dialysis.

4) Honey for treating allergies

There is some research to suggest that honey may be useful in minimizing seasonal allergies. The Guardian reported that honey even 'beats cough medicine' at alleviating and reducing the frequency of cough.

One placebo-controlled study which included 36 people with ocular allergies, found that participants responded better to treatment with honey compared to placebo. However, a third of them reported that eating a tablespoon of honey every day was hard to tolerate due to its overly sweet taste.

5) Fighting infections

In 2010, scientists from the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam reported in FASEB Journal that honey's ability to kill bacteria lies in a protein called defensin-1. ⁵

A study published in the journal Microbiology revealed that Manuka honey is effective at treating chronic wound infectionsand may even prevent them from developing in the first place.

Dr. Rowena Jenkins and colleagues, from the University of Wales Institute, reported that Manuka honey kills bacteria by destroying key bacterial proteins.

Some studies have revealed that a certain type of honey, called "Manuka honey," may even be effective for the treatment ofMRSA infections.

Dr Jenkins concluded:

"Manuka and other honeys have been known to have wound healing and anti-bacterial properties for some time. But the way in which they act is still not known. If we can discover exactly how Manuka honey inhibits MRSA it could be used more frequently as a first-line treatment for infections with bacteria that are resistant to many currently available antibiotics."

Manuka honey may even help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate, UK.

A study published in the journal Pediatrics, which compared honey to placebo in helping children with cough during night time, found that honey was superior. The researchers concluded "Parents rated the honey products higher than the silan date extract for symptomatic relief of their children's nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to URI (upper respiratory infection). Honey may be a preferable treatment for cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood URI."⁶

Natural honey better at killing bacteria than artificial honey - Kendall Powell wrote in the journal Nature that "natural honey kills bacteria three times more effectively" than an artificial honey solution of the same thickness and sugar concentration.⁷

Honey's other possible uses in medicine

New research is always finding new possible uses of honey in treating certain conditions and diseases. One study found thatManuka honey may prevent radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients.

The history of honey

• Over four thousand years ago, honey was used as a traditional ayurvedic medicine, where it was thought to be effective at treating material imbalances in the body.
• In pre-Ancient Egyptian times, honey was used topically to treat wounds.¹.
• Egyptian medicinal compounds more than five millennia ago used honey.
• The ancient Greeks believed that consuming honey could help you live longer.
• Even the Prophet Mohammed glorified the healing powers of honey.
• The Quran also praises honey's healing ability:

"And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought."

The beneficial properties of honey have been explored in modern times, and there is evidence to suggest that these historical claims may hold some truth.

Properties of honey

Honey is made up of glucose, fructose, and minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphate, sodium chlorine, potassium, magnesium.

Below is a typical honey profile, according to BeeSource:²

• Fructose: 38.2%
• Glucose: 31.3%
• Maltose: 7.1%
• Sucrose: 1.3%
• Water: 17.2%
• Higher sugars: 1.5%
• Ash: 0.2%
• Other/undetermined: 3.2%

The slightly acidic pH level of honey (between 3.2 and 4.5) is what helps prevent the growth of bacteria, while its antioxidant constituents cleans up free radicals. The physical properties of honey vary depending on the specific flora that was used to produce it, as well as its water content.

---