Sa nior Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller How to Choose and Use a Home Blood Pressure Monitor Dear Savvy Senior, Can you offer me any tips on choosing and using a home blood pressure monitor? I just found out I have high blood pressure and my doctor recommended I get a home monitor so I can keep tabs on it. Just Turned 63 Dear 63, Everyone with high blood pressure (130/80 or higher) should have 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. Here are some top-rated blood pressure monitors to consider along with some tips to help ensure you take an accurate reading. Best Monitors The most accurate and easiest to use home blood pressure monitors today are electric/battery powered automatic arm monitors, which are more reliable than wrist or fi ngertip monitors. With an automatic arm monitor, you simply wrap the cuff around your bicep and with the push of one button the cuff infl ates and defl ates automatically giving you your blood pressure reading on the display window in a matter of seconds. Many automatic monitors also come with additional features such as irregular heartbeat detection that checks for arrhythmias and other abnormalities; 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 transmit your data to your smartphone or computer. The top five automatic arm monitors as recommended by Consumer Reports for 2025 are the Omron Platinum BP5450 ($90), Omron 10 Series BP7450 ($70), Omron Evolv BP7000 ($70), A&D Medical UA767F ($55), and Omron 3 Series BP7100 ($55). And the top wrist monitors are the Omron 7 Series BP6350 ($55) and the Equate (Walmart) 4500 Series ($40). You can purchase these blood pressure monitors at pharmacies, medical supply stores or online and you don’t need a prescription to buy one. Prices, however, will vary slightly depending on where you buy. How to Measure After you buy your monitor, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s offi ce 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 measurements at home. Be still: Don’t exercise, smoke or drink caff einated drinks or alcohol for at least 30 minutes before measuring. Empty your bladder and ensure at least 5 minutes of quiet rest before measurements. Sit correctly: Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a sofa). Your feet should be fl at on the fl oor and your legs should not be crossed. Your arm should be supported on a fl at 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. Don’t measure over cloths: 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: It’s important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as in the morning before taking medications, or evening before dinner. Take multiple readings: Each time you measure, take at least two readings one minute apart and record the results. 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. nior ior THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 21, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 AG CAMPBELL JOINS LAWSUIT TARGETING ELON MUSK - Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, along with twelve other Attorneys General, fi led a lawsuit challenging the exercise of executive power by Elon Musk. The lawsuit argues that President Trump has violated the United States Constitution by creating a new federal Department without Congressional approval and by granting Musk sweeping powers over the entire federal government without seeking the advice and consent of the Senate. “The President cannot create a new department to restructure the federal government and certainly cannot give unchecked power to a billionaire friend without Congressional action,” said Campbell. “Our lawsuit seeks to put an end to the ongoing corruption and abuse of power at DOGE that threatens funding for crucial needs such as healthcare, education and more.” U.S. ATTORNEY LEAH FOLEY’S OFFICE COLLECTS MORE THAN $60 MILLION IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ACTIONS - United States Attorney Leah Foley announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts collected $60.17 million in criminal and civil actions in fi scal year 2024, including $19.56 million in criminal actions and $40.6 million in civil actions. “The American people deserve a government that is both accountable and eff ective in protecting their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Foley. “These substantial recoveries refl ect our unwavering commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars, holding wrongdoers accountable and securing justice for victims of fraud and other off enses. Whether through civil enforcement, asset recovery or criminal prosecution, our offi ce will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to defraud the government and exploit the public.” $158 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING – Gov. Maura Healey announced $158 million in low-income housing tax credit and subsidy awards for fourteen aff ordable housing projects across the state. These awards are aimed at supporting the production and preservation of Page 19 1,138 aff ordable units for seniors and families across the state. “High housing costs are one of the biggest challenges facing Massachusetts residents,” said Healey. “Our administration is refusing to kick the can down the road. We need to increase housing production across the state to lower costs – and these aff ordable housing awards will help us get there. Because of our tax cuts package, we are able to give out more funding than ever before, which will directly support the creation of more than 1,000 affordable homes for seniors and families across our state.” EXCLUDE TIPS FROM TAXABLE INCOME – Rep. Michael Soter (R-Bellingham) filed legislation that would exclude tipped wages from taxable Income. The measure is aimed at providing tax relief for service industry workers who rely on tips as a major source of their earnings. Supporters said that by excluding tipped wages from state income tax calculations, the bill would allow workers in restaurants, hosBEACON | SEE PAGE 20 - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 (978) 744-1020 Docket No. ES25P0478EA Estate of: PAULINE A. CASEY Date of Death: 12/15/2024 CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Pamela Casey O’Brien of Saugus, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Pamela Casey O’Brien of Saugus, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 03/21/2025. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: February 14, 2025 PAMELA A. CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE February 21, 2025
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