Blood pressure is one of the most important predictors of health, but who has time to fumble with uncomfortable pressure cuffs?
High blood pressure is often referred to as the Silent Killer. Hypertension can lead to heart attacks and strokes, but it also can be a precursor for heart failure, aneurisms, kidney disease, and even some forms of dementia. An occasional snapshot reading in the doctor’s office once or twice a year is not adequate. According to the American Heart Association, most people should check their blood pressure once a week at home. Take three readings and average the results. But fumbling with pressure cuffs on the upper arm can be inconvenient, and some people don’t like the squeeze when these devices apply pressure. A Canadian company, NuraLogix, has create the Anura app that measures your blood pressure simply by taking a 30-second selfie with your smartphone, either Apple or Android. The free app also measures your heart and breathing rates and tracks them so that you can see your trends over time. This convenient app means that you can quickly check your blood pressure any time, anywhere.