Points of interest and information concerning
blood pressure and high blood pressure
GB
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Panasonic improves blood pressure assessment
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The treatment of high blood pressure is one of the most successful forms of
treatment in modern medicine. This applies not only when preventing
complications due to high blood pressure, but also with regard to treating
damage following a stroke or heart attack.
Recent studies have proven beyond all doubt that:
1. high blood pressure can be successfully lowered in patients of
every age and
2. blood pressure should be stabilized at a low level.
The findings of major recent studies have made it necessary to adjust the
formerly acceptable limits (the World Health Organization (WHO), 1999). In
other words, the traditional limit of 160/95 mmHg as the borderline between
normal and high blood pressure has now been reduced. Consequently, the
normal values have been “lowered” by WHO, the German Hypertension
Society and the American Hypertension Committee.
A pathologically high blood pressure
is now defined as follows:
Systolic value of 140 mmHg or more
and/or a diastolic value of 90 mmHg
or more–provided that these values
are repeatedly obtained under
standard conditions, i.e. at rest
(measured at three different times
on two different days).
This definition applies regardless of age. What formerly constituted a
borderline area with systolic values between 140 and 159 mmHg and
diastolic values between 90 and 94 mmHg is no longer considered to be a
“grey area”, but is quite clearly classed as high blood pressure. This
consequently means that medical treatment is required for blood pressure
values in excess of 140/90 mmHg.
Upper value (SYS.) 140 mmHg
Lower value (DIA.) 90 mmHg
Blood pressure exceeding both or
either of these limits is considered
hypertension.
The values should be confirmed by
repeated measurements, though.
Thanks to modern medical technology measuring blood pressure has
now become uncomplicated. The user-friendliness makes measuring a lot
easier, but very often a mistake can occur when assessing the measured
values. In the majority of cases it is not the whole blood pressure picture that
is taken into account but only a single measurement. The result of this is that
more than 70% of all hypertension sufferers are insufficiently treated or not
treated at all (Source: World Health Organisation (WHO)).
Now Panasonic revolutionizes the treatment of high blood pressure.
Blood pressure is not a fixed parameter!
The blood pressure fluctuations of this example of a day profile show why a
single value is not suitable for diagnosis and therapy.
For people with high blood pressure a fluctuation of up to 50 mmHg
within the run of a day can occur.
