• Established hypertension (high blood pressure) is defined as having a systolic value of at least 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic value of at least 90 mmHg.
• Generally, blood pressure is described as being too low (hypotension) when the blood pressure value is less than 105 mmHg (systolic) and 60 mmHg (diastolic). However, the threshold between normal and low blood pressure (hypotension) is not as accurately specified as the threshold for high blood pressure (hypertension). Hypotension may be indicated by symptoms such as dizziness, tiredness, tendency to faint, visual disorders or a high pulse rate. In order to ensure that hypotension or the associated symptoms are not signs of a serious illness, a doctor should be consulted in the event of doubt.

Initially, high blood pressure does not cause any symptoms, and those affected do not even notice. That means that most of those affected do not even know that they belong to this patient group. The danger is that if blood pressure is permanently too high, there is an increased risk of damage to vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and eyes. Regular measurement gives reliable information about the development of blood pressure values. This is important in order to recognize risks early on and to avoid the consequences of hypertension.

If hypertension remains untreated in the long term, further serious illnesses may occur, including heart or circulatory problems such as myocardial infarction, weakness of the heart (heart failure) or stroke. But renal weakness or decline of vision are also among the possible consequences.

The decision about which type of blood pressure monitor to use is mostly a matter of personal preferences. Regarding the requirements for technical measurement accuracy, clinical tests and tests for legal conformity, there are no differences between wrist and upper arm devices, so basically you could use every Veroval^® blood pressure monitor.

However, there are certain advantages to each of the device types which you can consider when making your decision:

If you already suffer from cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac arrhythmias, the upper arm blood pressure monitor Veroval^® duo control should be your first choice for measuring your blood pressure daily. To ensure high precision even with cardiac arrhythmias, the Veroval^® duo control measures blood pressure with DUO SENSOR technology

In addition to cardiac arrhythmias, we recommend upper arm devices for people with vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and for users over the age of 60. Due to the constriction of the vessels, it is easier to obtain more accurate values with upper arm devices. For accurate blood pressure readings, the correct position of the cuff at heart level during the measurement is very important. This is particularly easy with an upper arm device, as it is already ensured when the cuff is applied to the arm. For users who are unable or find it difficult to apply an upper arm cuff, a wrist device is recommended. Reasons for this can be too-large upper arms, obesity, or limited mobility.

In case you are not affected with either one of the conditions mentioned above, and you are looking for an easy to handle device, a wrist blood pressure monitor offers fast measurement and convenient handling. For your best personal health, we recommend choosing the model you feel most comfortable with, because what matters most is that you measure your blood pressure frequently and regularly at home.

There are many behavioural risk factors for the development of hypertension, including:

• Consumption of food containing too much salt and fat, and not eating enough fruit and vegetables
• Tobacco use
• Harmful levels of alcohol use
• Physical inactivity and lack of exercise
• Poor stress management

In addition, there are several metabolic factors, including:

• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Being overweight or obese

Secondary causes might be:

• Kidney disease
• Endocrine disease
• Malformations of blood vessels
• Preeclampsia (hypertension that occurs in some women during pregnancy)

In some cases there is no known specific cause for hypertension. Genetic factors may play a role.

People with normal threshold blood pressure (systolic between 130 and 139 and/or diastolic between 85 and 89 mmgH) are recommended a better diet, meaning above all less salt and regular exercise. Values of Grade 1 hypertension (140–159 and/or 90–99 mmHg) and above require more profound lifestyle changes, such as muscle-strengthening activities twice a week, consuming less alcohol, no tobacco and regular check-ups. Medication complements these lifestyle changes, ideally not the other way round.

Take medications as prescribed by your doctor and never change the dose on your own. Your self-measured blood pressure values are for your information only – they are not a substitute for medical examination or treatment. Please do not interpret your measured values by yourself, and do not use them for self-prescribed treatment. Take measurements based on the instructions of your doctor, especially when you are on a medication plan.

Cardiovascular risk is a person's risk of developing a cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The exact cause of CVD isn't clear, but there are lots of things that can increase the risk of getting it. These are called "risk factors". The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing CVD.

The main risk factors for CVD are outlined below.

• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Inactivity
• Being overweight or obese
• Family history of CVD
• Ethnic background
• Other risk factors (e.g. age, gender, diet, alcohol)

The more of these risk factors apply, the higher the cardiovascular risk.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. CVDs are usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots. They can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.

There are many different types of CVD. Four of the main types are:

• Coronary heart disease
• Strokes and transient ischaemic attack
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Aortic disease

Your blood pressure values change naturally many times a day. Most fluctuations are normal and caused for example by the time of the day, physical activity, stress or weather. Our internal clock influences and controls the daily sequence of many processes in our body, including blood pressure.

Fluctuations are therefore natural, and blood pressure usually has a daily pattern with two natural peaks during the course of the day:

Morning: blood pressure reaches its highest level, usually in the first two hours after awakening.

Noon to early afternoon: values drop slightly.

Evening: blood pressure rises again and reaches a second high point.

Night: blood pressure drops to its lowest level, which is often about 10 to 15 % lower than the daytime value.

Veroval^® blood pressure monitors follow the recommendations of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and differentiate between measurements taken in the morning and those taken in the evening. With this information, your doctor is more likely to identify the right treatment for you if you should need medical treatment for high blood pressure.

If you notice irregular or high fluctuations in your daily blood pressure, there is an increased risk of circulatory disease, which should be checked by your doctor.

Blood pressure readings can only be compared with one another if they were taken when you are resting, and always at the same time of day. Studies have shown that higher blood pressure readings are obtained in the doctor's surgery in about 25 % of patients compared to measurements made at home. This phenomenon is called "white coat hypertension" or "the white coat effect". This is not a disease condition, because the higher blood pressure in such cases is caused by the stress situation and nervousness during the visit to the doctor. These raised blood pressure readings, however, can be the first indication that high blood pressure will develop in the long term.

High blood pressure in pregnancy occurs in about 10 % of all mothers-to-be. It must be monitored and treated carefully. Blood pressure self-measurement during pregnancy is advisable in every case, and should follow consultation with your doctor.