Blood pressure checks in Graz

So that the reading is meaningful, we ask you first to sit down and rest for a few minutes, since experience shows that values taken immediately after physical exertion, such as climbing a flight of stairs, tend to be misleadingly high. During the measurement your upper arm should be uncovered and resting at roughly the height of your heart.

The measurement is taken with an upper-arm cuff, after which we explain both of the values it produces: the systolic pressure, which reflects the phase in which the heart pumps blood into the circulation, and the diastolic pressure, which arises during the subsequent phase in which the heart refills. Both are expressed in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

If you are already taking medication to lower your blood pressure, please bring the names of the medicines or their packaging with you, so that we can interpret the result in the context of your treatment; any decision to adjust that treatment, of course, rests solely with your doctor. The following points will also help to ensure a reliable result:

• avoid coffee and nicotine, where possible, for about 30 minutes beforehand
• use the toilet beforehand if necessary
• keep your legs uncrossed while the measurement is being taken
• refrain from talking during the measurement

As a general guide, a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above, measured repeatedly at rest, is regarded as raised and should be investigated by a doctor, whereas values in the region of 120/80 mmHg are considered favourable. A single elevated reading at the pharmacy should nevertheless be interpreted with caution, as it may simply reflect the journey here, a degree of nervousness or the situation of being measured itself. Where there is any doubt, we will therefore repeat the measurement or suggest that you monitor your blood pressure at home over the course of several days.

Precisely because high blood pressure frequently causes no symptoms whatsoever for a long time, regular checks are worthwhile. Low readings, by contrast, are harmless in many people; should you experience dizziness, episodes of your vision going dark or even falls, however, the cause ought to be clarified by a doctor.

A medical assessment is particularly advisable if your readings are repeatedly elevated, if you already have heart or kidney disease or diabetes, or if high blood pressure has occurred in members of your family at a comparatively young age. In the event of chest pain, shortness of breath, signs of paralysis, a sudden difficulty with speech or a pronounced feeling of illness, please call the emergency number 144 without delay.

You are welcome to have your blood pressure measured at any time during our opening hours, which are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, and Saturday, 8 am to 12 noon. You will find us at Heinrichstraße 3, 8010 Graz.