Know which is the best application to measure blood pressure

Frequently measuring blood pressure is crucial for patients suffering from high blood pressure, and knowing the best app for measuring blood pressure can help a lot in this regard.

An effective and intelligent way to measure blood pressure is using applications directed at the health area. Thus, technology is increasingly present in the daily lives of the population and it is, for sure, a way to increase the practical way and making the monitoring of hypertension simpler, more dynamic and functional.

What are health applications?

Health apps are those used to help with self-care and recording of health data.

There are many types of apps with many functions, which can vary depending on the developers’ focus or the users’ main goal.

Among the most popular applications are:

• Medication Control;
• Vaccines;
• Menstrual cycle and fertile period;
• Diet and nutrient intake;
• Water consumption;
• Anxiety control;
• Training and physical exercises;
• Insurance and health plans.

What are the benefits of health apps?

The number of users of health apps has been increasing more and more. This is because, with today’s technology, they have become great allies in preventive measures and health care.

These applications have several functions and bring several advantages that justify their daily use.

Check out the main benefits:

1-Proximity: technology makes distance decrease. With the use of apps it’s no different: people can consult with doctors, issue exams and receive reports, besides having access to safe and reliable information, all in a secure way.

2-Storage of information: One of the main functions, existing in most applications, is the alternative of storing data. This way, it is possible to have a health follow-up in a simpler way, which even encourages patients to worry more about quality of life and well-being.

3-Facility: the easy way and the various functions of the applications are other highlights.

In the applications, the language is simpler, less technical, and this ends up being a great advantage for users. This happens because the apps are created with UX (User Experience) concepts, an area responsible for making technology more user-friendly, accessible to everyone.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure that the blood has on the inside of the arteries as it passes through.

This force is defined by the beating of the heart, the organ responsible for pumping the blood throughout our body.

It is possible to measure blood pressure, which, when it shows altered values, can have problems

such as hypertension. In practice, blood pressure is composed of two numbers:

Systolic pressure: which is the pressure from when the blood is pumped;
Diastolic pressure: the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.

The values are measured with millimeters of mercury. 120/80 mmHg or, popularly, 12 by 8 is considered adequate. The values may vary according to age, for example. In addition, people who

suffer from kidney disease or diabetes should be concerned about keeping the pressure below 130/80 mmHg. When the value reaches 140/90mmHg, one is already considered hypertensive.

How to measure blood pressure?

Having the pressure value monitored is essential, both for those who have blood pressure problems

and for those who don’t have any changes. In prenatal care, for example, pregnant women are

constantly monitored.

But, after all, what is the method for measuring blood pressure? There are two main devices for measuring blood pressure: the mechanical sphygmomanometer and the digital sphygmomanometer. Both have the same function; the first does the manual measurement, while the second does the

digital measurement, allowing the user to measure his or her own blood pressure.

To measure correctly, without running the risk of causing any changes, a few tips can be excellent:

• Prefer to take the blood pressure measurement in the morning and, if possible, while still fasting;
• If you need to urinate, do so before measuring;
• Do not lift heavy weights or make great physical efforts. If you do, wait at least five minutes before measuring;
• Smoking cigarettes or digesting alcoholic beverages should not be done in the thirty minutes before measuring;
• Don’t cross your legs so as not to impair the venous delay, forcing the heart to work harder and the pressure to rise;
• Avoid talking when you are taking your blood pressure.

Below are some tips for measuring with a mechanical sphygmomanometer:

• Place the cuff of the device about 3 cm above the bend of your arm;
• Find the pulse and place the “head” of the stethoscope over the spot;
• Keep the valve closed and place the stethoscope in your ear;
• Inflate the cuff to 180 mmHg, opening the valve slowly;
• Observe the hands and interpret the sounds: the strongest is the maximum pressure and the last is the minimum.

Apps to measure blood pressure: which one is the best?

The use of cell phones to control and monitor your health is being increasingly adopted.

There are even applications that help in the measurement of blood pressure. Through photoelectric components, for example, the applications can recognize the heart rate and measure the patient’s blood pressure.

In most applications the information is stored in a very simple way, which depends on what

the function is. However, it is possible to analyze and track in a much simpler way.

It has many app alternatives, both for Android and iOS cell phones. Some apps use the connection with smart watches, which can measure pressure and emit electrocardiogram signals.

Two good options are the BP Monitor App, which measures systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as pulse rate; and the iCare Health Monitor, which analyzes blood pressure and heart rate.

It is worth pointing out that, although very functional, apps should not be the only way to control pressure, especially for patients who already have health problems.

The apps are support tools, but they do not replace periodic visits to the specialist and health check-ups. The focus is that these tools are used only as sources of information that enrich and complement

medical monitoring.

The Zello application unifies all your medical appointments and exams history.