Measuring your blood pressure is an important part of assessing cardiovascular health because raised blood pressure (hypertension) is a very common cause of cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that one in three people in the UK suffer from hypertension, so this is a common problem.
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Blood pressure monitoring
Also known as: Hypertension monitoring
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What is it for?
Measure and monitor blood pressure
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Treatment overview
Along with high cholesterol, hypertension is an easily treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so blood pressure measurement is one of the simplest and most effective tests that we have in terms of disease prevention.
At The London Clinic, we have several different ways of measuring blood pressure, each of which is used in different circumstances.
Besides using a cuff as described above, there are several other ways to measure your blood pressure:
- Ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
- Digital sphygmomanometers
- Portable blood pressure monitors
It is important to note that high blood pressure can only be diagnosed by measuring it, since most people have no symptoms at all, even when their blood pressure is very high.Â
FAQs
Blood pressure is written as two numbers that are recorded in millimetres of mercury (mmHg), for example, 120/80 mmHg.The first number measures the maximum (systolic) pressure of your arteries at the moment when your heart beats, while the second number measures the lowest (diastolic) pressure of your arteries between heartbeats when your heart is resting.Your blood pressure is measured using a device called a sphygmomanometer. This device contains an inflatable cuff, a rubber bulb, and a measuring dial.First, your doctor or nurse will secure the cuff to your upper arm and place a stethoscope on the arteries inside your elbow.Next, he or she will pump the bulb attached to the cuff so that it inflates and constricts around your arm.At this point, the cuff will be released, and as your doctor hears the sound of blood flowing back down your arm through the stethoscope, they will take a reading of your systolic pressure from the measuring dial.Once this rushing sound has subsided, your doctor will record your diastolic pressure from the dial.
When your heart beats, it pumps blood that contains oxygen around your body so that your cells can function.As the blood is pumped through your arteries, it pushes against the vessel walls, which are muscular and flexible.The degree to which your blood pushes against the artery walls is known as your blood pressure.The more forcefully the blood is pumped, the more the artery walls are stretched and the higher your blood pressure will be.
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Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
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If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.