SunTech’s mission or Massive Transformational Purpose (MTP) is:

Saving & extending lives by enabling the world to know their vascular health

It is really exciting when we get the chance to support other organizations who share a similar mission, such as the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association funds more cardiovascular and stroke research than any U.S. organization except the federal government. Some of the activities that the AHA funds include:

• Public Health Education, including helping people identify the warning signs for heart attacks and strokes
• Research seeking new discoveries related to causes, prevention, and treatment of heart disease and stroke
• Professional Education & Training
• Community Service focused on detection of cardiovascular and stroke-related problems

Chloe is modelling our size #3 Vet Cuff

Here at SunTech we get this question a lot: How do I know when it is time to replace an old blood pressure cuff? 

There are a couple of foolproof ways to tell if your BP cuffs are getting worn out.

ABPM and HBPM in action

 When it comes to the diagnosis of high blood pressure, or hypertension, in patients, many health organizations, including the American Heart Association, recommend either Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) or home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM). This is recommended for most patients with high in-office BP readings.

These two methods of diagnosing hypertension are often considered superior to solely relying on in-office BP readings, which might offer a misleading picture of your patients’ health and could lead to misdiagnosis and over or under-medication.

But what are the differences between ABPM and HBPM? Does one practice offer any inherent benefits over the other?

The rate of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) studies is on the rise with more and more clinical organizations recommending ABPM for routine hypertension. While patients are familiar with office and home blood pressure monitors, ABPM remains a relatively unknown procedure. How do you explain ABPM to your patients and ensure you get the compliance you need for accurate diagnosis and treatment?

A patient with high BP readings in the office is a prime candidate for ABPM to confirm diagnosis of hypertension. The American Heart Association recommends either ABPM or home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) for most patients with high in office BP readings.  

SunTech Medical Launches New Vet BP Monitor Carrying Case

We are very excited to announce the release of a new Vet BP Monitor carrying case made for our Vet monitors. This new case adds both a new level of utility as well as protection to our already rugged and colorful Vet BP monitors.

This case was specifically designed with our veterinarians and vet techs in mind. The durable nylon case fits any of our SunTech Vet BP monitors with their monitor accessories and has 2 large pockets on each side for cables or cuffs. Having all your BP equipment organized in this case makes moving everything from one patient room to the next a breeze.

Going off-site? Easily transport the monitor holding the top handle or simply attach the adjustable shoulder strap and wear it over the shoulder. Love pockets? We do too! There is yet another large pocket on the bottom of the case that is detachable and holds large, flat items such as equine size cuffs.

Good news! Our Vet BP Free Item Promotion has now been extended until March 31st, 2021 due to popular demand!

Here's how you can get a pack of 6 cuffs, a monitor carrying case, or an AccuVet temperature probe FREE.

After your purchase of a Vet30, Vet25E, or Vet30E monitor, go to our website to register your device and enter in one of the rebate codes below.

Could poor sleep or not enough sleep lead to an increase in your blood pressure (BP)? It’s not fully understood how and why, but it’s thought that sleep helps regulate stress hormones and helps your nervous system to remain healthy.  Over time, lack of sleep could hurt your body’s ability to regulate stress hormones, leading to high blood pressure (hypertension).¹

Dr. Michael Grandner, Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, says, “Hypertension is a key cardiovascular risk factor.  There are now many studies that have been able to show that insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality are related to the development of high blood pressure and other aspects of heart disease.”  Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Those with this disorder have been found to be at higher risk of hypertension.²

NOTE: COVID-19 is an evolving public health emergency. The following information is based on currently available guidance, however, is it not intended to replace guidance from state and local health authorities or your doctor. Always consult your doctor for any health questions you may have.

It can be hard to stay on top of all the news about the coronavirus pandemic and the various symptoms and risk factors. How is blood pressure related to the risk of COVID-19? Should I keep taking my blood pressure medications? Is it too risky to go to the doctor or hospital during the pandemic? SunTech Medical, the leader in blood pressure technology and solutions, has put together the following resources to help you answer those questions and more.

According to American Medical Association (AMA) president Dr. Patrice, Harris, “Hypertension is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and preventable death in the U.S. Inaccurate blood pressure readings can lead to diagnosis errors, which means getting an accurate reading is vital to treating the condition.”

A recent study published in the journal Hypertension found an increase in high blood pressure (hypertension) cases during pregnancy. By reviewing CDC data on >151 million women between 1970 and 2010, the researchers found a 6% yearly increase in hypertension. The implications being complications for the mother, such as preeclampsia, or an increased risk of preterm birth.

Although the need for accurate BP measurement is clear, the joint survey showed the gap in BP knowledge that many healthcare professionals have. The most frequently missed best-practice question was about proper cuff-wrap-inflation, followed by proper brachial artery cuff position. Both factors are critical to getting an accurate BP reading. Even though the healthcare professionals surveyed were aware of the opportunities for error in BP measurement, BP refresher training is reported to be infrequently held.

The same AMA-AHA survey suggested that healthcare professionals believe up to 41% of BP measurements taken across all medical practices are less than 100% accurate. Although the overall error rate was acknowledged, most respondents felt that their practice was better than the norm.

To ensure an accurate reading, consider these 10 factors that can affect blood pressure readings and advice from our Clinical Manager:

• If you have a wound, do not apply a BP cuff over, as this can cause further injury.
• If you have had a single mastectomy, do not apply a BP cuff to the arm on that side. In the case of double mastectomy, use the side of the least dominate arm.
• Too frequent BP measurements can cause injury due to blood flow interference.

Additional Resources:

To learn more about the basics of BP, see this TedEd on How blood pressure works by Wilfred Manzano.

Want to try your hand at taking a BP reading? Check out this BP simulation.

Sources:

https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/new-research-shows-need-re-training-blood-pressure-measurement

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/safety-quality/ama-aha-look-retrain-physicians-measure-blood-pressure

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/a-growing-problem-pregnancy-vs-high-blood-pressure/2019/11/08/0ff37238-fb52-11e9-ac8c-8eced29ca6ef_story.html