Most diabetes patients prefer the ease of checking their blood glucose levels themselves rather than making frequent trips to a lab. If their condition requires frequent tests, having their own meter is definitely more convenient.

What meter to use becomes one of the central questions for these people. Patients need the help of their doctor and all available information in print and online to help them make their decision. Each patient\’s choice should be based on criteria pertinent to him or her, such as how physically able the patient is to handle tiny test strips or how well can he or she read the display on the meter. Once the patient determines his or her personal needs in a glucose meter, they are better able to make an informed choice.

Some key things to look for when choosing a glucose meter include:

1. Display: Does it have a display that is easily readable?

2. Insurance: Some health insurance companies only cover certain meters or only pay a particular amount. The patient should find out from his or her insurance provider what the coverage limitations are and if they will also cover the test strips.

3. Expense: For someone with a fixed income or with no insurance, cost is big factor in the decision making process. An affordable meter does not necessarily mean the strips that go with it are affordable. When picking a meter, confirming the price of the strips is vital.

4. Special features: Many brands of meters have features that other, simpler meters don\’t. Some of these could be important for certain diabetes patients to help do a better job of controlling their condition.

* Providing rapid results: Some meters can have the results in as little as 5 seconds.

* Sample sizes: Because some patients can have difficulty getting a large enough blood sample for their meters to analyze, there are new meters that get accurate results with smaller sample sizes.

* Internal data storage: The more test results that a meter can save in its memory the easier it is for patients and doctors to track glucose levels over time. As many as 1000 results can be saved by some meters.

* Download capability: Some meters allow you to download all of the test results in its memory. Once onto a computer, the patient can easily email this file to his or her doctor.

* Multiple test sites: Constant testing on the fingertips can make them painful and tender. Meters are available that make it possible to take samples from other places on the body like the forearm, base of the thumb, and even the thigh.

Before selecting from the best glucose meters, the patient needs to ensure that he or she completely understands all of the features, knows how to use the meter properly, and is aware of how much insurance will pay and how much of the cost of the meter and strips they will incur.

Introduction

High blood pressure or hypertension refers to high pressure (tension) in the arteries. It does not mean overly excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can increase blood pressure temporarily. Hypertension normally has no symptoms, but it can create serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. It causes the heart to work a lot harder and can harm the arteries, causing them to narrow a lot faster. It can also damage other parts of the body and is a major health problem in North America affecting 33% of Americans, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Hypertension

Hypertension, most commonly referred to as \”high blood pressure\”, HTN or HPN, is a medical problem in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated and is considered to be present when a patient\’s systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mmHg or more, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is routinely 90 mmHg or more. It can be designated as either primary or secondary and is one of the most common complex disorders, with genetic implications averaging 30 percent.

Hypertension can be a short term or lifelong disease, depending on the reason and is dangerous because it causes the heart to work harder than normal. Pre-hypertension is high blood tension between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the pre-hypertension range. Should your blood tension be in the pre-hypertension range, it is more probable that you will end up with hypertension unless you take action to stop it. If you have this form of hypertension, you may not necessarily require medicine.

Heart

Some person\’s may not know they have HBP until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidneys. When it is not diagnosed and treated, it can cause the heart to increase in size, which may cause heart failure. With HBP, the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are larger. If you don\’t have hypertension by age fifty five, you have a 90 percent chance of developing it at some time in your life, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Unattended, it will cause the heart to eventually overwork itself to the point at which serious damage can happen. About 1/2 of people having first-time heart attacks and 2/3 of people having first-time strokes suffer from HBP.

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Treatment

Treatment is focused on reducing water retention and reducing HBP to normal limits. When you first begin treatment, your doctor may ask you to come to the office regularly. Your doctor will go over the information with you and decide if your treatment program is working or if you need to alter it. Among the 61% who are under treatment, only 35% have their blood tension sufficiently under controlled. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

Conclusion

Hypertension is called the silent killer because it usually produces no symptoms and is a risk factor for heart and kidney disease and stroke. HBP does not occur evenly throughout the population and occurs disproportionately more often in minority communities. High blood pressure rates are also rising among US children, alongside an epidemic of obesity. Hypertension in adults will usually be measured on at least 2 different MD visits before a diagnosis can be made. It can be treated with both lifestyle modifications, usually as the 1st step, and, if necessary, with medications. Diuretics work in the kidney and flush excess water and sodium from the body. Nearly one third American adults have high blood pressure. Once It begins, it normally lasts a lifetime. Fortunately, it can be easily diagnosed, and once you know you have it, you can work with your MD to control it.