Page 30 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, June 28, 2019 Savvy Senior Dear Savvy Senior, I just found out I have stage 1 hypertension and my doctor recommended I get a home blood pressure monitor to keep an eye on it. Can you offer me any tips on choosing and using one? Hypertensive Helen Dear Helen, It’s a smart idea! Everyone with elevated or high blood pressure – stage 1 (or 130/80) and higher – should consider getting a home blood pressure monitor. Home monitoring can help you keep tabs on your blood pressure in a comfortable setting. Plus, if you’re taking medication it will make certain it’s working, and alert you to a health problem if it arises. Home Monitors The best type of home blood pressure monitors to purchase are electric/ battery powered automatic arm monitors, which are more reliable than wrist or fingertip monitors. With an automatic arm monitor, you simply wrap the cuff around your bicep and with the push of one button the cuff inflates and deflates automatically giving you your blood pressure reading on the display window in a matter of seconds. Many monitors today also come with additional features like irregular heartbeat detection; a risk category indicator that tells you whether your blood pressure is in the high range; a data-averaging function that allows you to take multiple readings and get an overall average; multiple user memory that allows two or more users to save their readings; and downloadable memory that lets you transHow to Choose and Use a Home Blood Pressure Monitor mit your data to your computer or smartphone. You can find these monitors at pharmacies, medical supply stores or online, and you don’t need a prescription to buy one. Prices typically range between $40 and $100. In most cases, original Medicare will not cover a home blood pressure monitor, but if you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a private health insurance policy it’s worth checking into, because some plans may provide coverage. Some of the best automatic arm monitors as recommended by Consumer Reports are the Omron 10 Series BP786N ($75); Rite Aid Deluxe Automatic ($60); Omron Evolv BP7000 ($70); and A&D Medical UA767F ($45). How to Measure After you buy a monitor, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office so they can check its accuracy and make sure you’re using it properly. Here are some additional steps to follow to ensure you get accurate readings at home. Relax: Don’t exercise, smoke or drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol for at least 30 minutes before measuring. Sit quietly for at least five minutes before you take a measurement and remain quiet during the test. Sit correctly: Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor and your legs should not be crossed. Your arm should be supported on a flat surface (such as a table) with the upper arm at heart level. Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed directly above the bend of the elbow. Check your monitor’s instructions for an illustration. Put the cuff directly on your bare skin: Putting it over clothes can raise your systolic (upper) number by up to 40 mmHg. Measure at the same time every day: It’s important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as morning and evening. It doesn’t matter whether you do it before or after taking medication. Just be consistent. Go to the bathroom: A full bladder can rise your systolic pressure by 10 to 15 mmHg. Take multiple readings and record the results: Each time you measure, take two or three readings one minute apart and record the results by writing them down, or using an online tracker (see CCCtracker.com). For more information on high blood pressure numbers and how to accurately measure it at home, visit Heart. org/HBP. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. BUYER1 REAL ESTATE TRANSAC TIONS SELLER1 BUYER2 Aiko-Medlock, Catherine Siqeca, Neritan Roderick, Sebastian Player, Philip Herman, Mark Blumenthal, Jessica B Lamichhane, Shirprakash Jarnagin, Jerry R Easton, Thomas L Ma, Thao Roderick, Mark Chen, Zhong Herman, Kathleen Younker, Mark W Cifuentes, Estela Verrocchi, Michael D Baker, Robert E Rabideau, Lorraine Surette, Christopher J Maltaos, Frank E Crespo Realty&Invests LLC SELLER2 ADDRESS 58 Coolidge St 15 Waverly Ave 55 Reed Ave 44 Jackson Ave 6 Russell St Maltaos, Linda J 39 Parlin St #605 17 Griswold St 55 High St #3 CITY Everett Everett Everett Everett Everett Everett Everett Everett DATE 07.06.2019 07.06.2019 07.06.2019 07.06.2019 06.06.2019 05.06.2019 05.06.2019 05.06.2019 PRICE $364 000,00 $695 000,00 $505 000,00 $300 000,00 $427 500,00 $359 900,00 $503 000,00 $399 000,00 OPEN HOUSE - 20 Fisker Drive, SAUGUS Sat. & Sun., June 22 - 24th from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Lots of potential with this 6 Rm, 3 Bdrm. Ranch on Cul De Sac w/ inviting brick fireplace in liv. rm. Kitchen leads to a screened porch and deck and level fenced yd. Additional space in basement that offers Family Room and more. Mins. from Shopping, Boston, Airport, and Trans. $399,000 SAUGUS - Esquisite Grand Foyer makes 4-5 Bdrm Colonial a home with loads of sunlight beaming throughout. Kitchen opens up to lge. family rm. along with pellet stove overlooking backyard...............................................................................$499,000 Darlene Minincleri & Sue Palomba SAUGUS - Gorgeous Single Desirable Ranch Style home offers 6 rooms, 3 bedrooms, full bath, bright and sunny living rm with wood burning fireplace, spacious eat- in kitchen with plenty of cabinets and hutch area, three bdrms with lots of closet space.................$370,000 53 Jackson St. Saugus (781) 813-3325 Call for a FREE Market Analysis REVERE - 2 FAMILY, 4&7 w/2nd floor unit excellent space for a large family with 4 bdrms, liv/dining combo & Eat in Kit located on two levels. All bedrooms are decent size. w/ample closet space. both units have living/dining room combination............$580,000 NEW LEASE - Prime Commercial space on Route 1, South, Saugus. Incredible Exposure 1000 Square Feet Including all utilities. Call Darlene for Details! SAUGUS - A hidden gem just miles away from Boston. Sunlight streams into impressive condo in a well-established Suntaug Estates. Featuring Lvng. Rm. & 1 generous bdrm. Brand new open concept kitchen, features granite countertops, s/s steel appls. and new flooring. Washer/Dryer hookups, storage, parking, Pool and more...........................................................$249,900 PEABODY - 4 finished levels along with each bath welcomes new owner. The lvng rm with granite floors incl. inviting fireplace, cath. ceiling, and dbl. doors leading to an ext. deck. 3rd level has 2 lge. bdrms with full bath incl. jacuzzi. Roof 10 yrs. old, new windows, 2 sep. driveways, fenced level yard, & more. Mins. to Malls, Major Rtes. & Trans. Just move in........$599,0000 SOLD SOLD
31 Publizr Home