Panasonic EW3153 - Manual (Page 5)

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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Panasonic Automatic Arm Blood Pressure
Monitor EW3153.
Measuring your own blood pressure is an important way of monitoring
your health. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major health problem
which can be treated effectively once detected. Measuring your blood
pressure between doctor visits on a regular basis in the comfort of your
home, and keeping a record of the measurements, will help you monitor
any significant changes in your blood pressure. Keeping an accurate
record of your blood pressure will help your doctor diagnose and possibly
prevent any health problems in the future.
Basics of Blood Pressure
Your heart acts like a pump, sending blood surging through your blood
vessels each time it contracts. Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by
blood pumped from the heart on the walls of blood vessels. Systolic
pressure is the pressure exerted when the heart contracts and pumps
blood into the arteries. Diastolic pressure is the pressure exerted when the
heart expands, or relaxes. When you or your doctor take your blood
pressure, both your systolic and diastolic pressures are measured. If your
blood pressure measurement is 10 mmH g over 80 mmHg (10/80), for
example, your systolic pressure is 10 mmH g while your diastolic pressure
is 80 mmH g.
Important Instructions Before Use
1. Do not confuse self-monitoring with self-diagnosis. Blood pressure
measurements should only be interpreted by a health professional who
is familiar with your medical history.
. If you are taking medication, consult with your physician to determine the
most appropriate time to measure your blood pressure. NEVER change
a prescribed medication without first consulting with your physician.
3. Blood pressure can vary based on many factors, including age, gender,
weight and physical condition. In general, a person’s blood pressure is
lower during sleep and higher when he or she is active. Blood pressure
can change easily in response to physiological changes. The setting in
which a person’s blood pressure is measured can also affect the results.
Having one’s blood pressure measured by a healthcare professional in
a hospital or clinic can cause nervousness and may result in a
temporarily elevated reading. Because blood pressure measurements
taken in a clinical setting can vary considerably from those taken at
home, a person’s blood pressure should be measured not only
occasionally in the doctor’s office, but also on a regular basis at home.
Also, if you find that your blood pressure is lower at home, this is not
unusual. To accurately compare with your physician’s reading, take
your Panasonic blood pressure monitor to your doctor’s office and
compare readings in this setting.
4. People suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, vascular constriction, liver
disorders or diabetes, people with cardiac pacemakers or a weak
pulse, and women who are pregnant should consult their physician
before measuring their blood pressure themselves. Different values
may be obtained due to their condition.
5. Try to take your blood pressure measurements at the same time and
under the same conditions every day.
The ideal time to measure your blood pressure (to obtain your so-
called “base blood pressure”) is in the morning just after waking up,
before having breakfast and before any major activity or exercise. If
this is not possible, however, try to take measurements at a specified
time prior to breakfast, and before you have become active. You
should relax for about 5 minutes before taking the measurement.
The following situations may cause substantial variations in blood
pressure readings and should therefore be avoided at least
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