Most Recent Archives - A&D Medical

May Measurement Month

Alijah Barnett — Fri, 02 May 2025 15:31:59 +0000

May Measurement Month: The Simple Habit That Could Save Your Life

When was the last time you checked your blood pressure?

If you’re trying to remember… you’re not alone. Most of us don’t think much about blood pressure unless a doctor brings it up. But those two little numbers can say a lot about what’s going on inside your body.

That’s where May Measurement Month comes in—a global wellness reminder to pause, breathe, and check in with your heart health.

What Is May Measurement Month?

May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global health campaign created by the International Society of Hypertension. Every May, healthcare teams and volunteers around the world set up free blood pressure screening stations in:

Pharmacies
Community centers
Shopping malls
Workplaces
Even parks!

The mission? To help people everywhere know their numbers and take action before problems start.
Think of it as a free wellness check-in—one that could quite literally save your life.

Why It Matters (Even If You Feel Fine)

High blood pressure—aka hypertension—is often called the “silent killer.” Why? Because most people with high BP don’t feel a thing.

But over time, it puts serious stress on your body. Left untreated, it can lead to:

Heart attacks
Stroke
Kidney disease
Vision loss

Here’s the big picture:

Over 1.3 billion people live with high blood pressure.
Nearly half don’t know it.
It’s linked to more than 10 million deaths each year.

Scary? Yes. Preventable? Absolutely. And it only takes 60 seconds with an affordable home monitor.

Why Monitoring Your BP is a Total Wellness Win

Checking your blood pressure is about more than avoiding scary health surprises. It’s a simple, powerful way to:

Stay in sync with your body
Track how things like stress, sleep, or sodium affect you
Catch early warning signs before they escalate
Empower yourself with real data about your health

And the best part? You can do it at home. Blood pressure monitors are affordable, easy to use, and quick—just 60 seconds and you’re done.

What May Measurement Month Has Achieved So Far

Since launching in 2017:

Over 5 million people have been screened
Many discovered high blood pressure for the first time
The campaign has influenced public health policies worldwide

It’s a beautiful reminder that a small act can create a big ripple.

How You Can Join the Movement

Want to take part? Here’s how:

Get your blood pressure checked – at home, at a pharmacy, or during an MMM event
Encourage your family and friends to do the same
Share the message on social media using #MayMeasurementMonth
Talk to your doctor if your readings are high or borderline

This tiny habit can have a huge impact on your health and your future.

Final Thought

In the sea of health numbers we track—steps, sleep, macros—blood pressure is one of the most important.

So this May, take a deep breath.
Roll up your sleeve.
And check in with your heart.

Your future self will thank you.

The post May Measurement Month appeared first on A&D Medical.

Health Tracking and Brain Health

Alijah Barnett — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 17:12:41 +0000

How Managing Your Blood Pressure with Health Tracking Can Have Long-Lasting Benefits for Your Brain Health

Did you know that managing your blood pressure can have long-lasting benefits for your brain health?

A groundbreaking study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine reveals that just 3½ years of intensive blood pressure management can significantly lower the risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, even years after stopping treatment. This highlights the importance of aggressive blood pressure control for adults with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk.

But how can you effectively manage your blood pressure and keep track of your health? Enter the world of health tracking technology, where innovative solutions like A&D Medical’s Bluetooth® blood pressure monitors and the A&D Heart Track App come into play.

Benefits of Health Tracking

Track Everything Easily: Imagine being able to monitor your health effortlessly, from blood pressure, oxygen saturation, to weight. The A&D Heart Track App makes it easy to capture and analyze vitals like blood pressure and other biometric parameters, helping with symptom management. This means you can make healthier choices in diet and exercise, leading to a better you!
Manage Chronic Conditions: Living with a chronic condition like hypertension can be challenging, but apps like the A&D Heart Track App are here to help. By capturing and analyzing vitals, these apps aid in symptom management, making it easier to stay on top of your health.
Achieve a Healthier You: Health tracking apps offer various options to suit your health goals. You can share data directly with your doctor, making their job easier and potentially reducing appointment times and frequency. No matter your current health needs, the number one benefit of health tracking apps is a healthier you.

Understanding Hypertension: The Silent Killer

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common but serious condition affecting millions worldwide. Here are some key statistics:

Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure (48.1%, 119.9 million).
High blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of 685,875 deaths in the United States in 2022.
About 1 in 4 adults with high blood pressure has their condition under control (22.5%, 27.0 million).
Globally, hypertension affects 1.28 billion adults.

Seamless Connectivity with A&D Medical’s Bluetooth® Blood Pressure Monitors

A&D Medical’s Bluetooth® blood pressure monitors connect seamlessly to the A&D Heart Track app, providing an easy way for patients to check their readings and have that data sent to their healthcare provider. The app requires syncing and pairing with Bluetooth® devices, ensuring accurate and timely data transmission. Plus, the monitors are available in multiple cuff sizes to provide a better fit and more accurate results.

Investing in your health has never been easier or more effective. With A&D Medical’s innovative solutions, you can take control of your health and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re making the best choices for your well-being.

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Beyond the Scale

Alijah Barnett — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:03:56 +0000

Beyond the Scale: Why Weight Isn’t the Only Metric That Matters

Ever feel like your weight doesn’t tell the full story of your health? That’s because it doesn’t! Your body is made up of more than just pounds—and understanding those details is the key to real progress.

More Than Just Weight—See the Full Picture

Traditional scales stop at weight, but your health is so much more. Body composition scales allow you to monitor additional metrics that significantly impact your wellness. Tracking these biometrics offers a comprehensive view of your health, enabling you to make informed decisions about your wellness journey.

Key Metrics to Track: Body Fat Index:

Understanding your body fat percentage helps you assess your risk for conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It provides a clearer picture of your body composition, beyond just weight. Without monitoring body fat, you may overlook high body fat levels, increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other related health issues.

Muscle Index:

Monitoring muscle mass ensures you’re maintaining or building muscle, which is crucial for metabolic health, strength, and overall physical function. Failing to track muscle mass can lead to muscle loss, reduced strength, and slower metabolism, which can negatively impact your overall health and physical performance.

Visceral Fat Index:

Tracking visceral fat allows you to assess your health risk. Unlike subcutaneous fat, it surrounds vital organs like the liver, stomach, and intestines. High levels of visceral fat are linked to serious health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. You could have a weight but still be at risk for metabolic disorders due to high visceral fat levels. Not monitoring visceral fat can result in undetected high levels, increasing the risk of these serious health conditions.

Body Water:

Staying hydrated is essential for bodily functions such as temperature regulation, joint lubrication, and nutrient transportation. Tracking body water helps ensure you’re maintaining optimal hydration levels. Without tracking hydration, you may experience dehydration, leading to low energy, mental fog, increased risk of stroke, and other health issues.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR):

Importance: Knowing your BMR helps you understand how many calories your body needs at rest. This information is vital for managing your weight and tailoring your diet and exercise plans to meet your health goals.

Not knowing your BMR can lead to improper calorie intake, resulting in weight gain or loss, and potentially causing metabolic imbalances.

Seamless Integration with A&D Heart Track App

This Body Composition Scale, paired with the A&D Heart Track app, provides a seamless and effective way to monitor your wellness journey.

Discover the benefits of tracking your health metrics with A&D Medical’s Bluetooth^® Body Composition Scale here.

The post Beyond the Scale appeared first on A&D Medical.

Heart Health Month

Alijah Barnett — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 19:44:28 +0000

Celebrate Heart Health Month with These Engaging Activities!

February is Heart Health month—an ideal time to focus on well-being and encourage positive lifestyle changes. Here are simple, impactful activities to promote heart health over four weeks. These ideas are designed to inspire individuals and communities to prioritize cardiovascular wellness.

Weekly Exercise Challenges

Walk for 30 minutes (5 days/week): A low-impact activity that boosts heart health and reduces stress.

20 jumping jacks (5 days/week): A quick way to elevate heart rate and energize the day.

15 side lunges (5 days/week): Strengthens the lower body and improves flexibility.

Hold a plank for 30 seconds (5 days/week): Builds core strength and enhances stability.

15 push-ups or modified push-ups (5 days/week): Improves upper body strength and endurance.

Ride a bike or stationary cycling (20 minutes, 5 days/week): Enhances cardiovascular fitness and leg strength.

Take 10,000 steps/day (5 days/week): Use a tracker to reach this daily milestone.

Climb stairs (3 times/week): An easy way to add movement to your routine.

Heart-Healthy Eating Habits

Prepare meals with salmon or kidney beans (2 times/week): These nutrient-rich foods support heart health. Share recipes with family and friends.

Use cinnamon in recipes (2 times/Week): May help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Snack on Heart-Healthy options: Opt for nuts, seeds, or fresh produce. Share snack ideas to inspire others.

Eat fresh fruits and vegetables (5 days/week): Incorporate a variety of colorful options for maximum nutrients.

Cook heart-healthy meals (2 times/week): Use whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Hydration and Rest

Drink 64 ounces of water daily: Essential for overall health. Adjust based on personal needs.

Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night: Prioritize consistent, restorative rest for heart health.

Mindfulness and Stress Reduction

Practice deep breathing or meditation (10 minutes/Day, 5 days/week): Reduces stress and promotes focus.

Track Your Progress

Monitor your blood pressure (5 days/week): Regular tracking helps maintain awareness of heart health.

Consult a Healthcare Professional

Before starting any new routines, consult a healthcare professional, especially if you have existing health conditions. Personalized advice ensures safe and effective results.

Stay Connected and Motivated

Sharing progress, recipes, and photos with family and friends fosters motivation and a sense of community. Working together makes building a heart-healthy lifestyle enjoyable and sustainable.

Heart Health month is an opportunity to embrace practices that support cardiovascular wellness. These activities help inspire healthier hearts and happier lives.

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How to Take Your Blood Pressure at Home

Monika Patel — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 18:10:05 +0000

How to Take Your Blood Pressure at Home

Maybe you were just diagnosed with Hypertension (aka High Blood Pressure), or you’ve had it for years and your doctor now wants you to start monitoring your blood pressure at home.

This can be a little overwhelming for many people, and it can bring up lots of questions, like will it be as accurate as when they take my BP at the doctor’s office? And how do I make sure I get a good reading?

But have no fear! With a little bit of background information and some practice, you’ll become a pro in no time.

Will my reading be as accurate as at the doctor’s office?

Many home blood pressure monitors are just as accurate as the doctor’s office. In fact, many doctors have started using automated BP devices in their offices because they eliminate the human error of manual methods.

But before you strap that cuff on, there are a few things to pay attention to first:

Use a clinically validated blood pressure monitor

This is more than just receiving clearance from the FDA or Health Canada, which is required for all blood pressure to be sold.

Clinical validation is an independent study that verifies the accuracy of the device using standardized medical protocols, and these studies are then published in peer-reviewed medical journals. You can view our clinical validations here. Our validations use the most recent protocols and we are included on the VDL and Hypertension Canada recommendation lists.

Use the right size cuff

Cuff size matters!

If the cuff you use is too small, your blood pressure reading will be artificially high. If your cuff is too large, you may get a lower-than-actual reading.

To determine the right cuff size for you, with your arm hanging at the side of your body, measure the circumference of your upper arm at the midpoint between shoulder and elbow.

Understand what can impact your measurements

While it might seem obvious that if you just went on a run or had an argument, you blood pressure might be a little high. But there are many other factors that can cause variations in your measurements, including the time of day, climate, altitude, and even the season.

On top of that, what you eat or drink (think caffeine) or even if you need to use the restroom can shift your measurements from your normal levels.

For 30 minutes before you take your measurement, do not exercise, drink coffee, caffeinated soda, or alcohol, and do not smoke.
Sit quietly for 5-10 minutes to relax.

https://youtu.be/k8njAaOo1Y0

How do I make sure I am taking a good reading?

Now that we’ve gotten the background information out of the way, it’s time to get started!

Sit with your back straight, your legs uncrossed, and your feet flat on the floor.
Place the cuff on your left arm or wrist (unless your doctor has advised you to use your right side).
- For upper arm monitors, wrap the cuff around the middle of your bare upper arm, about ½” above the elbow. It should be fastened snugly, but you should be able to slide two fingers underneath the cuff. Place the air hose on the inside of the arm near the crook of your elbow so that the artery position mark (if your model has one) is aligned with your brachial artery.
- For wrist monitors, with the palm facing upwards, attach the monitor to the inside of your wrist. Fasten securely with the top edge of the cuff aligned with the crease of your wrist.
Rest your arm on a table so cuff is at heart level.
- For upper arm monitors, the cuff around your upper arm should be even with your heart. Your hand should rest on the table, palm up.
- For wrist monitors, you’ll need to bend your elbow to bring your wrist to heart level. Positioning your wrist at heart level is critical for an accurate measurement.
Press start. During your measurement, do not talk, move, or eat. Any one of these things can impact your measurement.

That’s all there is to it!

Bonus Tips

If you want to go the extra mile, there are a few more best practices:

Measure two times a day: once in the morning and once in the evening, preferably at the same time each day.
Log your blood pressure in a logbook or app, like A&D Heart Track.
Take multiple readings and average the results. Some monitors have this feature built in.

If you’re taking your blood pressure at home, you’re ahead of the curve. According to the American Heart Association, 46% of adults have hypertension, and monitoring at home has many benefits, like tracking your treatment, cutting your healthcare costs, and more.

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