Logging your blood pressure readings in a pressure log is an easy way of tracking your heart health. It will help you monitor the variables responsible for maintaining it.
Want to know more about maintaining a blood pressure log? Read this article to have all your questions answered!
Free Printable Blood Pressure Log Charts in PDF & Excel
Now you know the elements of blood pressure logs and why they are so important.
If your doctor has advised you to record your blood pressure readings in a SOAP note, you can download free printable daily blood pressure log sheets that will make your life easier. Your doctor will include all these details in your medical necessity form too.
You will find that there are several different types of blood pressure log sheets. Each one will keep track of different information, but the goal is to ensure healthy numbers.
If you download any of the templates given below and print it out, it will be easy for you to monitor your blood pressure.
Traditional Log
The most common type of blood pressure log is the traditional blood pressure log.
This printable blood pressure chart will ask you to enter some key details. These include your name, target systolic and diastolic pressure, date, and time. It will also include systolic and diastolic readings whenever you record them.
Some traditional blood pressure logs also have a column to write down your symptoms. You can list out the symptoms so that your doctor can adjust your medication and treatment.
Medication Log
The second type is the blood pressure medication log. This variation will also keep track of medicines that you may take.
A medication log also keeps watching over your food habits throughout the day, over several days. That is to ensure you don’t experience any fluctuations based on your eating habits.
If you see some variations in your BP, the log will help you figure out which part of your diet needs to change. If the fluctuations are due to medication, your doctor will resolve the issue with the help of this log.
Tracking will help you see patterns that detail your heart health. It will also help you and your medical professional decide on a course of action.
Pulse Log
If you choose to customizable a log sheet, you can also include your pulse in your daily log.
Your pulse rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. It can range anywhere from 60 to 100 beats every minute. But this will depend on various factors such as weight, height, stress levels, etc.
Combining your blood pressure readings with your pulse will give you a holistic picture. Moreover, it can serve as a manual to determine the next steps in maintaining good blood pressure and pulse rate.
FAQs
Question: What is a Blood Pressure Log?
The blood pressure chart or log will aid you in the process of maintaining healthy blood pressure. It will tell you whether your readings are healthy or not.
The top number on your blood pressure machine is your systolic blood pressure. It measures the force that your heart exerts on the arteries each time it beats.
The bottom number is your diastolic blood pressure. It measures the force that your heart exerts on the arteries in between the beats.
A blood pressure log will help you watch out for your systolic and diastolic numbers over a period of time.
Blood pressure measurements vary from normal to stage 2 high BP (hypertension). The level of your blood pressure will decide what type of treatment you might need. The doctor derives this from the readings you’ve tracked over a period of time.
Similarly, you can also maintain a blood sugar log to assure immediate medical attention if needed.
Key Elements
It helps you measure your blood pressure multiple times within a day. Keeping track of your readings over time will give you and your doctor a better idea of your overall health.
Your doctor at the same time will maintain a SOAP note to record all your details.
Printable blood pressure logs contain columns where you can track your numbers.
All templates will ask for the following information:
- Name
- Target blood pressure (systolic and diastolic readings recorded separately)
- Date
- Time
- Heart rate
- Systolic and diastolic readings
Question: How do you take blood pressure logs?
Keeping a blood pressure log is an easy process that will take you only a few minutes each day. Try to keep the following points in mind as you keep watch over your blood pressure log:
Use a good quality blood pressure machine
To guarantee an accurate blood pressure reading, try to invest in a good blood pressure monitoring device available within your budget.
Standard timings
Blood pressure readings from when you wake up, during your day, and in the evening are helpful to understand and analyze your health situation.
Immediately note down the reading
Avoid waiting to write down your blood pressure readings as they are easy to forget.
Keep your doctor in the loop
Your medical professional will watch out for any sign that indicates an abnormality in your blood pressure.
Question: What is the normal blood pressure by age?
Age is one of the most important factors to consider when you keep watch over your blood pressure log with a blood pressure chart or blood pressure log.
If you are between 20 and 40 and a male, your systolic blood pressure will hover around 120. Your diastolic blood pressure should be around 75-78. If your age range lies between 40 and 60, systolic blood pressure will vary from a low of 115 to a high of 145. Diastolic blood pressure will average at 78.
Similarly, if you are between 20 and 40 and a female, your systolic blood pressure will hover around 115. Your diastolic blood pressure should be around 70-75. If you lie between 40 and 60 years, systolic blood pressure will vary from a low of 115 to a high of 130. Diastolic blood pressure will average at 75.
Question: When is the best time to take your blood pressure?
It is best to take your blood pressure first thing in the morning before any medications or food intake. You can take a second reading in the evening. Your blood pressure will be higher by the end of the day. Additionally, for accurate readings, try measuring your blood pressure two to three times, twice a day.
Question: What is the normal blood pressure of a person?
The normal blood pressure of the average person shows a systolic blood pressure of 120 or lesser and diastolic blood pressure of 80 or lesser. If your blood pressure log consistently shows this pattern, your heart health is good.
Question: How long should you keep a blood pressure log?
How long you maintain a blood pressure log depends on your condition and the medical practitioner’s advice. This will, of course, vary from patient to patient.
Question: How to graph blood pressure over time?
If you want to get a concise picture of your blood pressure log, you can graph it on a blood pressure chart.
You will find several printable blood pressure charts or a blood pressure log online. All you have to do is find your systolic blood pressure on the left and diastolic blood pressure on the right. Consequently, your blood pressure reading is a combination of both these levels.
Keeping an eye over your blood pressure with a printable blood pressure chart will help you notice patterns easily and take appropriate action.
Conclusion
That’s everything you need to know about maintaining a blood pressure log! If you log your data and readings over time as prescribed in the doctor’s note, the blood pressure log is bound to show some positive changes.
Remember that sticking to a blood pressure log is a commitment. Try to maintain it for as long as your doctor recommends. And you’ll soon start observing changes in your overall health.
