For individuals undergoing dialysis, managing blood pressure becomes a critical aspect of their treatment. The kidneys play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure by controlling fluid balance and producing hormones that help relax blood vessels. When kidney function is compromised, blood pressure can rise significantly, leading to hypertension.
My 100% disability rating with the VA states I have CKF with Hypertension. Keep in mind that hypertension is considered to be the No. 1 risk factor for death globally. It is intuitively obvious (didn’t you love those words in geometry proofs?) that those of us on dialysis have a very imperative need to quickly and accurately track our blood pressure readings.
Recent research has shown that a significant number of off-the-shelf blood pressure devices are providing inaccurate readings due to improper fitment of cuffs. In general, the standard size cuff is too small for the majority of adults resulting in blood pressure readings being higher than they actually are. See the lead graph from the cited research link at paragraph head. Note that small and medium cuffs read much higher than large and xlrge for the author who considers himself to require a larger cuff.
I suggest you read and ponder the cited article, and if you possibly have larger arms and/or suspect your organic blood pressure measuring device is overly stating your true blood pressure, take it to your GP for comparison and possibly obtain a better version. After all, it’s only your life and well-being we’re dealing with here!
Leave a Reply