Apps for Blood Pressure Control: Your Health in Your Hands

Have you noticed how technological advances are transforming the way we take care of our health? Blood pressure is one of the most important vital indicators for assessing our body’s well-being, and now, thanks to applications, we can monitor it easily and conveniently using just our cell phone.

In this article, we will understand a little more about blood pressure and how Innovative appsare transforming our devices into powerful health tools. Keep reading and discover more below!

Understanding blood pressure

There has been a lot of talk recently about blood pressure, but do you know what its definition is? When we searched, we found the following: “Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure that blood exerts on the internal walls of the arteries as it is pumped from the heart throughout the body”.

It is worth highlighting that healthy BP can vary from one person to another, but the ideal value is considered to be 120 x 80 mmHg (popularly 12 x 8). And since we are talking about values, it is important that you know that when blood pressure is equal to or greater than 130 x 90 mmHg it is considered high. Therefore, if an individual is found to have high blood pressure on repeated occasions, at different times, they are diagnosed with hypertension or high blood pressure.

Identifying the symptoms of hypertension

Hypertension is considered by doctors and health professionals as the silent disease, as it rarely presents symptoms in its initial phase. However, in some cases, uncontrolled hypertension can cause serious symptoms and health complications. These symptoms can be:

• Headache;
• Dizziness;
• Ringing in the ears;
• Blurry vision;
• Fatigue;
• Shortness of breathe;
• Nosebleeds (rare cases).

Strategies to avoid hypertension

Preventing hypertension is essential to maintain a good health cardiovascular. Here are some strategies to avoid this condition:

1. Healthy eating: It is essential to have a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and lean meats. It is also important to consume foods rich in potassium, such as oranges, bananas, green leafy vegetables and beans. And of course, very important: limit your salt intake.
2. Weight control: Maintain a healthy body weight. If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your blood pressure.
3. Practice physical activity regularly: Practicing some type of activity helps reduce BP. Even if you don’t have much time in your daily routine, try to do at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week. Aerobic activities are the most recommended: cycling, running, walking and swimming.
4. Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation: Limit alcohol consumption to moderate amounts, as excess can increase blood pressure.
5. Eliminate smoking: The most recommended thing is to stop smoking.
6. Reduce stress levels: Practice techniques to reduce stress, such as yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, or practice a hobby.
7. Reduce caffeine consumption: Even though the studies carried out are not conclusive, excessive caffeine consumption can temporarily increase BP.
8. Carry out regular monitoring: Perform medical check-ups on a regular basis. You can also use apps to have better control of your blood pressure. See some of the best digital tools available:

• BP Monitor/ Samsung Health;
• SmartBP;
• Blood Pressure- Cardio journal;
• Apple Health and App ECG.

It’s worth noting that these last two apps were developed especially for iPhone users. When using iOS devices you can have better control of your health. For more information, check out our Complete Guide to Apple Health.

Conclusion

As you can see, blood pressure is a crucial indicator of our health, and now, thanks to apps, monitoring it has become simpler and more convenient. Remember that early diagnosis and timely treatment can help avoid future complications.