#how to record bp level

[medugo]

Track and share your health vitals, medical reports, health records to your doctor. Download the Medugo App. Easy way to store your family health records, vitals, blood report, Scan Report, vaccination Report and menstrual cycle.

[muffinrecord]

Magia Exedra negativity I guess?

Something I was thinking about is that getting a new character is kind of disappointing in this game compared to Magia Record.

Let's say I finally actually got Kaede. In MagiReco I could spend AP and start working on her episode levels, go to labs and spend AP to level her up, get her materials. I could farm old bosses to get mats. Every time you leveled up her episode level you also unlocked quotes. You can put her on the homescreen and see all her little animations, what different outfits she has (if she has any).

In Magia Exedra you can use her in a fight. If you have heartsand saved, you can level her heartphial but if you don't then... that's kinda it, isn't it? And even if you have sand, it's not like you can read all of her story right away. You can't even look at half of her quotes right away like you can in magireco. You just kind of get her and the only difference is if you can use her in a fight or not.

And if you're an idiot who has defeated all the nightmare fights in the game then... well what do you do? I guess you can redo them if you want?

There really isn't any endgame at the moment. You log in and complete your dailies and then... well, that's kind of it. You can argue that maybe Magia Record was like that too, but you still had stuff to do. Like, there were so many characters you could work on and farm materials for, you could work on episode level, you could work towards doppels. If all else failed then you could farm SP to get memoria lol. Rainbow orbs were a bottleneck sure, but you could farm labs for the rare chance at getting them (seeing a rainbow orb as a drop in a lab always got me so fucking happy haha, it was like an instant boost of serotonin, even when they became really easy to acquire).

Man and what I'm gonna say is controversial but the SKIP function is both a blessing and a curse. I kind of feel like I shouldn't even complain about it, because I know I'm in the minority here. Cause AUTO in magireco isn't exactly good gameplay either? But it's kind of depressing to just skip all the farming. IDK. Maybe I'm just old.

I log on to my account and want to do stuff and there's just not really a whole lot to do.

I used to play mirrors endlessly when I was bored by refreshing BP and using strange weird teams and just having fun, but that doesn't work for Magia Exedra because you have to spend fucking magica stones to do so. And it's auto. And you really can't get away with using silly fun teams because that'll drop your ranking and your pvp rank is tied to tangible rewards?

...

Yeah I just kind of miss having things to do.

The JP account is fun atm because I'm playing through it more slowly but I dread the day I hit endgame because like. then what.

And another thing-- I will say that Magireco had some issues with how easy it became towards the end. I remember when NA first launched and we were all strugglin' with the waiting horse boss' poison. But at the same time, I really appreciate that you could use almost any character you wanted. Like uhhh I dunno. Two-stars and three-stars who weren't uncapped yet. You could still use them. Not in the hardest Scene 0 fights, but like. You could use them. But here...? Who the fuck is gonna use 3* Kako? Why doesn't Kako have a 4* version? She doesn't even get a personal portrait.

And that's another thing. 2* and 3* weren't better than 4* (most of the time) but it didn't feel like a waste to put work into them, even as a whale, you know? Because they can get uncapped. But like. Who is gonna invest in 3* Kako? Why would I work on 3* Masara if 4* Masara exists? What if I put a lot of effort into 4* Masara and then she gets a 5* version years down the line?

I guess you could argue that it's the same for when variants come out, but like... at least variants might look different from one another, you know? But this is just Masara. And at least with variants I can make a fun mirrors team of 5 Mamis and not feel penalized for it.

I like Magia Exedra but I miss Magia Record. I would trade Magia Exedra for Magia Record in a heartbeat. Even with all the Oriko content that I have devoured.

Edit: oh and I liked the small amount of customization we got too. Even as small as something like picking what card art to use on a character. I liked Tsuruno's 3* card art best. I liked choosing if the battle screen would show their chibis on the attacks or their card art. ...yeah that's a really small thing. I dunno.

Oh and picking backgrounds... and music...

maybe the game will start to implement more changes, maybe it won't, idk.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

⚕️GASS (Gallifreyan Assessment Scoring System)

Sick Gallifreyan just crossed your path? Here's how to assess their condition using the Gallifreyan Assessment Scoring System. Just remember, 'Gallifreyan life's a GASS'.

BIGGER - Google Drive: PDF / Image JPG / Image PNG

This guide is for use on Gallifreyans and Time Lords only. Always seek your human advice from human health providers.

✨ What is GASS?

The Gallifreyan Assessment Scoring System (GASS) is a tool designed to rapidly evaluate a Gallifreyan's condition. By monitoring vital signs and unique Gallifreyan indicators, it prioritises emergency responses while accounting for their distinct physiology, such as dual hearts and regenerative abilities.

Just remember, Gallifreyan life's a GASS.

📈 What's New in GASS?

This updated version of GASS includes critical refinements for more precise assessments. New categories have been added, such as Heart Rate Differential (HRD) to flag discrepancies between the two hearts and T = Responds to Telepathy in the level of consciousness scale. Adjustments to thresholds for vital signs and regenerative glow visibility also improve detection of emergencies like fibrillation or post-regenerative trauma.

📝 How to Use GASS

1️⃣Initial Observations

Ensure the environment is safe (e.g., no stray Daleks).

Observe for immediate signs of distress: skin colour, breathing effort, or lack of responsiveness.

2️⃣Evaluate Vital Signs and Assign Scores

Refer to the GASS table to assess each category:

🌬️ Respiration Rate: Count breaths per minute. Adjust for respiratory bypass if present.

🫧 Supplemental Oxygen: Note if oxygen support is in use.

🌡️ Temperature: Measure orally.

💓 Systolic BP: Record using a normal sphygmomanometer.

💖 Hearts Rate (Combined): Count the total bpm across both hearts.

🔄 Hearts Rhythm: Sequential beats (thud-thud, thud-thud) are normal; synchronous beats (thud-thud together) indicate fibrillation.

⚖️ Heart Rate Differential (HRD): Calculate the bpm difference between hearts; large discrepancies suggest possible singular heart failure.

🧠 Level of Consciousness (AVPTU): A = Alert, V = Responds to verbal stimuli, P = Responds to pain, T = Responds to telepathy, U = Unresponsive

✨ Regenerative Glow: Check for visible energy on the skin.

3️⃣Check for Healing Coma

If 8+ healing coma criteria are met:

Cease active interventions.

Monitor closely for changes.

Avoid premature waking to prevent neurological damage.

4️⃣Calculate Total GASS Score

Add up the scores from all categories:

0: No concerning changes. Continue routine monitoring.

1–4: Mild to moderate changes. Perform an ABCDE assessment and increase monitoring.

5–8 or 3 in single score: Severe changes. Perform ABCDE, escalate care, and consider sepsis.

≥9 or Glow = 3: Extreme changes. Initiate emergency intervention, constant monitoring, and prepare for sepsis protocols.

5️⃣Reassess After Interventions

Following each intervention, reassess the GASS score to adapt care and ensure stability.

🚨 When to Escalate

Critical signs: Synchronous heartbeats, extreme HRD, or GASS score ≥9.

Sepsis or Specific Emergencies: Use respective protocols for management.

📌 Key Points to Remember

Combine GASS results with clinical judgement.

Healing comas are protective states—let them run their course.

Escalate care if in doubt.

Medical Guides These are all practical guides to assessing and treating a Gallifreyan in an emergency or medical setting.

⚕️💕Gallifreyan CPR

⚕️👽Gallifreyan Assessment Scoring System (GASS)

⚕️👽ABCDE Assessment

⚕️⚠️Sepsis Emergency Response (SER)

⚕️⚠️Severe Trauma Protocol

⚕️🌡️Gallifreyan Thermoregulation and Emergency Response

⚕️🔮Psionic Emergency Pathways

⚕️✨Post-Regeneration Management

⚕️💤Gallifreyan Healing Coma Management

⚕️🩸Interpreting Gallifreyan Bloodwork

⚕️👶Gallifreyan Paediatric Emergencies

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features:⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[pizza-soup]

Hey! Just wanted to do an update for the new year!

Sooo, what have I been up to? A lot actually!

First off, I'd like to introduce a new member to my household, her name is Lucky, and I found her on an urbex trip last year as a tiny thing, and looked how gorgeous she is as an adult!

Those markings are pretty neat, huh? She's looks just like a Maneki Neko, all that's missing is a red ribbon and koban coin. She has such a sweet, affectionate personality, she is surprisingly very open to strangers giving her attention, and she loves water! Yeah, she plays in water! She has zero fear of it and likes playing with the sink faucet or laying on my shoulders when I soaking in the bath. I think it stems from me taking her out to the garden with me in the summer when I was watering the plants, the puddles cooled her off.

Speaking of gardening, I have two new trees. Ginkgos! My great aunt had one in her front yard, these are the babies. Since it's way too cold to plant them directly into the ground, they're currently in pots. I want them to grow just a bit larger before transplanting them.

And yes, that's Sol posing by the new trees! Look how handsome he is now! I'm glad he and his sister took in Lucky as an honorable sibling, I think she'd be very lonely otherwise. Stella has also grown up to be beautiful, and likes sharing her bed with Lucky. Orion doesn't like her though. Lol but he tolerates her so long as she doesn't get too close.

My health is better, thankfully. While I think I'll always have hypotension now, my doctor and I found a setup that works to keep it at bay. I have to watch my activity level and learn to rest properly (exercise can cause BP to drop fast), and stay hydrated with electrolytes daily. I have to set reminders though, since Im so bad at remembering. So far I haven't had any relapses for 7 months. I've also oddly lost a lot of weight, I thought it was suspicious, but my doctor said I'm actually at my BMI and the weight loss was gradual. My records show it was within a normal time range. Idk it felt so sudden to ME, but maybe I didn't notice it until recently. Eh. My sense of time isn't the best. Whatever the case, I was told to keep doing whatever I'm doing.

Work is... just as weird as always! Lol to the point it's kind of not weird for me anymore, I've gotten used to the strangeness of it. My brother however never got used to it. He actually quit working for the labs, not because it scared him off but because he finally got his major finished and he is working in an observatory down south. I'm proud of him! Space has always been a big interest for him, and the space science here in NM is growing!

As for creating, I've been busy writing two fanfics on Ao3. One is a Pokemon story, Come What May, and another is an alternate take on the classic Disney film, The Little Mermaid, called Candle on the Water. They're pretty long, my Pokemon fic is currently topping 20 chapters! I'd really appreciate if more people read them. Give em a little love. It's not the best work ever, but I'm kinda proud of them. They were written when I was struggling with a lot of self doubt and mild Imposter Syndrome. I'm working on being more gentle to myself and not letting perfectionism sabotage me or stop me from creating, and I'm kinda seeing that effort pay off bit by bit.

I've also been doing some song covers. I'm not sure if I'm confident in sharing those yet, but I've gotten a lot of encouragement from my family and my brother's friend who has been letting me borrow his music studio for recording sessions. Maybe I'll post one song if it's requested. I have three covers so far and they're all Evanescence. XD

Its been a very peaceful time for me, I got a raise last November and it's been nice. I've been treating myself to stationery and home decor. I splurged a bit and got two gaming devices from Anbernic, and have been modding my 3DSXL. Because screw gaming companies and their paywalling/microtransactions. It's time we start actually owning our games again, including media like music and movies.

I think this year is going to focus on retro media for me. CDs, DVDs, cassettes and vinyls. I've been rediscovering my collection in the garage and learning to maintain/fix my devices. Because while I do enjoy my modern media, I like the thought of having offline backups should I not have access to it later.

And my old school stuff takes me back to my summer days in school when I couldn't wait to get home to play my Gameboy while listening to my CDs, reading comics, or doodle and write short stories in my notebooks, or make zines with my friends. That might be something to revisit this summer.

I hope everything has been going well for you all, and if not, I hope it will soon. I may just return to this year, but probably gradually. I missed you all, and I miss sharing bits of my life here with you.

Take care! 💕

Edit: I'm not coming back. I'm sorry.

[kurishiri]

I see you have a lot of cards there and may I ask how many resources we need to have all the +99 cards? I suppose it depends on the events and the suitor, or am I wrong? Hehe I just want to know and try to get it 😅

hi there, anon! i feel that, no matter which suitor, it still does cost quite a bit to +99 a card. they're practically designed to be "locked" behind a paywall :,> but there are some that are more easily obtainable than others, as there r different methods to obtain them! which i'll go more into detail abt them and amount of resources for +99ing a card below the cut.

method #1: sending hearts in collection events...many, many times

this is the most "expensive" way, so to speak. in collection events, the featured ★4 is first given either at 280 times sent, if you send all 280 times within the first 80 hours of the event, or at ~560 times sent within the duration of the entire event. from there, you receive a dupe for every 20 times sent.

now, assuming you do get the ecb (280 times in 80 hours), you will get it to +1 at 560 times. so that leaves 98 x 20 = 1,960 more times needed. so that makes 560 + 1,960 = 2,520 times sent by the end of the event to fully uncap the card to +99. if you don't make the ecb, then you need an extra dupe, so 2,520 + 20 = 2,540 times.

assuming you only utilize one of the 3x lucky times (escort or story in en server), and all numbers are rounded up to the nearest whole number...

that would be a total of 2,540 / 6 = 424 cocktails x 150 gems = 63,600 gems for escorts

for stories, each run-through will yield 25 x 15 = 375 for reading through each of the 25 chapters; 10 x 6 = 60 for completing all the intimacy checks and avatar missions; and an additional 15 for completing the entire story. so that would make 375 + 60 + 15 = 450 times. so, 2,540 / 450 = 6 times. each run through needs 125 tickets, so 125 x 6 = 750 tickets x 100 gems = 75,000 gems.

it would cost less if you had other resources saved up already for the event, utilized other lucky times, parked your stories, etc. etc.

that said! some events - namely the 2024 halloween event in jp (ecb: william, nica) and jude's route release event and past records (ecb: jude) - have a system where they feature not one, but two ★4 featured cards. in which case, you get alternating dupes every 10 times sent. essentially, by sending 2,520 / 2,540 times, you can get 2 ★4 cards to +99!

method #2: ranking top 100 for a suitor in certain collection events

this is only applicable to some events, such as the aforementioned halloween 2024 collection event that ran in jp, the next wedding event coming to en, and some past records (elbie/al; ellis/jude).

now how many resources this takes is pretty much dependent on which suitor you're going for. the more popular the suitor, the more resources you will need to expend (bc the pool would be larger for more popular suitors, so naturally numbers and borders will be higher).

if you wanna play it safe to rank in a suitor's top 100 and have a relatively stress-free ranking experience, i would probably dedicate an average of 650 hearts. but if you're going for jude or ellis in either server, it might be better to get close to 700. on the other hand, if you're going for liam, you probably don't need 650...probably 500 may be enough.

...that said, don't take my word for it.

method #3: grinding in birthday parties

so bday parties r those events that r coming out in en next year for ikevil. they also feature a ★4 card which you can stack to +99 in the duration of the event, but it's not as expensive as uncapping them via collection events.

on the other hand, cards from birthday parties do have a slightly lower bp. in jp, an average fully-uncapped collection event card will have 2,295 bp. meanwhile, a bday party card, fully uncapped, is 2,145 bp. these cards r cgs for their stories, and as such, they r treated at the same level as a cg card you can obtain by reading a suitor's ending in their main story.

how many resources this takes is dependent on how strong your deck is for a character (and maybe how high your attire bp is). if you have a strong deck, you don't need to expend as much, but on the other hand, if you don't own many good cards for said suitor, you may need to expend more resources. i'm not exactly sure how many points exactly are needed to fully uncap this card, just that every 1000 points after reaching level 45, you receive a card dupe.

i heard around 150,000 points is enough to fully uncap the card. it does sound like a lot, but with a strong deck, each time you "escort" can yield quite a bit of points!

[rjzimmerman]

For years/decades, we (Earth people) have been fed numbers from this observatory, telling us the atmospheric CO2 and greenhouse gas emission concentrations and how we're wrecking our own planet. Now, thanks to that orange person, the observatory may be no more. I'm sure the execs at Chevron, Exxon, BP and all the others will be really happy to know that.

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

On the flanks of the largest active volcano on Earth, the Mauna Loa Observatory tracks the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are warming the planet, and has been doing so since 1958.

But the office in Hilo, Hawaii that manages the world-famous site could close in August, according to a copy of an internal federal document viewed by The New York Times.

The observatory has been a pole star of global scientific research. The data collected there helped to create the Keeling Curve, a famous upward-sweeping graph that documents the steep rise in carbon dioxide concentrations over decades.

“These data are our eyes on the planet,” said Ralph Keeling, a climate science professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego and the son of Charles Keeling, the curve’s creator. “It’s really vital base line data for how things are going to change going forward.”

The observatory’s office is among 30 buildings operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the nation’s leading agency for climate research, that are listed on the spreadsheet for possible lease terminations, beginning as early as May.

It is unclear what would happen to operations at the observatory if the office were to close. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to comment, writing in an email, “As a matter of policy, we do not respond to reporters with pronouns in their bios.”

Over the course of a day, the levels of carbon dioxide rise and fall, and within a year, there are seasonal variations. But the Keeling Curve shows the number has risen by more than 100 parts per million since 1958. In 2024, more carbon was emitted than ever before, and the average annual reading showed a record jump from the year prior.

That rise has warmed the atmosphere, causing climate change that has led to more frequent and intense extreme weather events like heat waves, floods and wildfires.

[klainelynch]

Hey friend! So I’ve been listening to a bunch of your Royai podfics lately and I just love them. Its the best way to get my fic fix while also being a productive adult lol. I’m blown away with how professional and polished your stuff is! You definitely could be recording full blown audiobooks, if you aren’t already! (And if you are, I’d love to know where to find those!)

I’m intrigued by your whole process: how you pick stories, record, edit, etc. Choosing when and where to use tone inflection, pacing, all that. You can fully nerd out if you feel like it! I’m so curious. ☺️❤️

Ahhhh what a wonderful message to find in my inbox!! 🥰🥰🥰 I'm so happy that my podfics have become something that you listen to in your daily routine! I don't record audiobooks or do this in any kind of a professional sense, but I do try to emulate what I love of different audiobooks/professional productions and other peoples' podfics, so your compliment means the world to me!

I started with a very stream-of-consciousness response and have tried to cohere it into something readable. You said I could fully nerd out, so here's over 2k of me taking you up on that xD

Choosing a fic:

I tend to gravitate towards fics that have more narration as opposed to dialogue. I love being in a character's head and fully living in their world and the way they experience it. When I am reading dialogue, I don't try to sound exactly like the voice actor (if it's from a tv show or movie) or adopt their accent, but I do try to embody the character in my voice, if that makes sense. If there are too many characters with dialogue, this gets difficult for me, which is why many of my solo podfics have two or fewer characters who speak, or why I create multivoice podfics with fellow podficcers.

In my podfic spreadsheet, there are several pages dedicated to fics that I'd like to record someday. Most of them are under 1k, though I do have a few that are around 3k (which would be on the longer side for me). I jot notes to remember what each fic is/what I would like to do with it—some examples of what those sound like with fics I haven't recorded yet: Zuko asks how Iroh survived when Lu Ten died because of Izumi feels; Al reflecting on Royai rebuilding Isvhal, no dialogue; Roy takes Riza out on a date (cover art would be a theatre program); good angsty Edwin moment after the boys come home (could have thunder in background); Ghost!Roy as Riza carried on, will need to build to this level of angst; Abbott Elementary book fair *chef's kiss*; Roy announces he’s engaged to some mystery woman but PSYCHE HE’S ALREADY MARRIED TO RIZA.

I used to have a pretty even split of recording fics with blanket permission versus asking authors for permission, but these days, I tend to be too lazy to ask lol. Not saying that I won't do it, but when the mood strikes me to record, I need to know pretty quickly if I can complete the project, and a bp statement really helps with that!

Prep work:

When I first began podficcing, I would put the entire fic into a google doc. This let me annotate the script for every little thing (highlighting dialogue, typing out phonetic pronunciations of difficult names/words, and putting spaces in between sections of text to help with breath control being the most common). The more I podficced, the less I had to annotate, until all I would do with my scripts was put in the spaces. I want my breath to be consistent/unnoticeable, so I read with that in mind. Often you can use the punctuation as your guide, but sometimes there are long stretches with no punctuation, and I have to figure out how a sentence should be cut up to make its meaning clear.

I didn't make these scripts for any of my solo podfics during Voiceteam this past May, and I still felt comfortable recording, so I think I may be past needing this tool for the most part. I just need to read through the fic a few times and look up any potential pronunciation issues right before I record.

Recording the podfic:

My early podfics were recorded with the microphone attached to my earbuds, and you can definitely hear it in the quality 🙈🙉 I did at least use a makeshift pop filter, so that helped with my plosives from the beginning.

After a few months, I got a blue snowball mic, which makes the quality so much clearer, and even more so once I got a computer that can run Audacity (more on why I love this program later).

I currently record in my closet, which is a long wide shape, so the doors don't close all the way when I'm inside of it. I shut them as best as I can to prevent outside noises, and I stand as I record. I used to sit at my desk with a soundproofing box around my mic, but I found it hard to get good breaths for long periods of time, so now I stand. The tradeoff is that I have to be wearing good shoes if I'm recording more than thirty-ish minutes (which could happen if the podfic is ultimately longer than twelve or so minutes because…)

My raw audio is usually at least twice as long as the final product. I often record several takes for lines, sometimes if I mess up, but usually if I don't think I captured the emotional quality that I can hear in my head when I read the line with my eyes. Sometimes it takes up to ten times for a line to feel right; other times, an early take ends up being the best one.

The previous point touches on how I handle putting inflection into my voice. The other part of it is thinking through how the speaker would say a particular word/phrase. If it's narration, I've emotionally been with that speaker for the entire fic, so I lean into that; if it's dialogue, it might be someone new, so I have to switch my brain. Either way, I have to (consciously or unconsciously) think through: 1. how would I personally say this? 2. how would the character say this? 3. how would the audience want to hear this? 4. how would the meaning be most effectively heard? Often there is overlap in these questions, but not always. If there's a conflict between these, I try to remember that my audience is probably just listening with their ears, not simultaneously reading with their eyes, so I need to prioritize their being able to understand what is happening and why. That's why I try to affect my voice in different ways and not literally mumble or shout, even if the fic has the character doing that.

Since you mentioned my Royai podfics, I will mention one way I distinguish their voices depending on who the narrator is. When Roy is the narrator, any of his dialogue is in my normal voice, and Riza's dialogue becomes slightly higher and slower; when Riza is the narrator, her dialogue is in my normal voice, and Roy's dialogue becomes slightly lower and faster.

I put a lot of pressure on myself to nail the first and especially the last line of a fic, so I will record a good number of takes for those. It's only happened once that I loved the first take I did of a final line. Sometimes I annoy myself at how many takes I record, but I'm thankful for the choices when I'm editing, so this is simply how I do things!

The hardest part of recording for me is keeping my voice quality consistent. I drink a lot of water throughout the day, but even so, I get dry mouth as I record, and once you're at that point, drinking more water doesn't really help. Tricks like chewing gum or brushing my teeth right before recording help me out.

Editing the podfic:

This has actually become my favorite part of the process! It feels like a puzzle and a treasure hunt, trying to find the best ways to pick out the best parts of my performance and turn it into a final product.

When I started podficcing, I had a chromebook, so the only audio editing software available was free online websites. I don't even remember the ones I used, but they did most of the things I wanted, and they let me get my foot in the door. The problem was that they were limited in tools, such as…

Noise reduction is my favorite feature of Audacity, which is the software I currently use. If you go back and listen to my podfics chronologically, you can clearly tell when I started using it because the general crackle in the background disappears. I have no plans to delete old pods, but it is as painful for me to listen to them for this reason as it is to reread fics I wrote in high school lol

The first round of edits is picking out the best takes for each line. Sometimes that means listening to several takes over and over before I choose my favorite; occasionally, I splice together the first half of one take and the second half of another. I'm very proud when I can do this with a single word and you can't tell the difference at all. I laugh when it sounds like I've done this with a word, but actually I just read it weird and I have no other take to substitute it with xD

Something else I do in the first edits is take out excessive space between sentences and paragraphs. I basically reset my breath/voice after every segment (could be a sentence or part of a sentence) so there's always extra space. I tend to edit down to one to two seconds between sentences, two to three seconds between paragraphs, and four to five seconds between entire sections of a fic. Of course, there are always exceptions (a character feeling very emotional, especially angry or excited, will have faster sentences; dialogue is formatted in paragraphs but it is inflection rather than time that indicates to the audience that a new paragraph/speaker has begun; an emotional line might require more space to let the audience process it).

Once I have all of the words edited together, I will do a second round of edits for tightening up the pacing. I listen to the edit without looking at the text, keeping my hands busy with a video game or coloring. As I'm listening, if something feels too fast or too slow, I'll make edits in real time, back it up, and listen again. The reason I can't read and listen during this pass is because my eyes are expecting too much and I can't properly hear what the audience will hear. When I began podficcing, I thought I had enough space in between words and sentences, but when I would listen back, I realized that I had cut too much out and the podfic's speed was faster than I liked. Now I leave more space in during the first edit and do this pacing pass.

Once I'm happy with the narration, I save it as a narration only file. I love adding in music and effects when I can, but I'm sure there are some who would rather only listen to the narration, so I make this available for accessibility and preference reasons.

I will usually make a final version with music and/or sound effects. This is one area where I'm specifically trying to emulate professional audiobooks and how they use music under the opening credits before fading out as the story begins.

Finding music is its own kind of scavenger hunt. I prefer to use public domain or creative commons music because it feels more true to the collaborative/transformative spirit that podfics have for me, and the idea of a podfic being taken down for copyright reasons does make me nervous. ccmixter and Purple Planet have a lot of songs that I've used in the past. The former has literally thousands of songs, which can overwhelm me if I'm working on a deadline, so I will sometimes just listen to random tracks and download anything that might be helpful in the future. That being said, if a fic uses a song lyric as a title or the author mentions a song as inspiration, I will try to use that song as the music if possible. I'm especially proud of how I used "Wait for It" at the end of An Endless Uphill Climb.

I use sound effects far less frequently than music, but they are fun when there is a natural place for them. I love the Star Wars audiobooks, and they often use sound effects and music in a way that heightens the emotions in the listener. That is always my guiding star, though I will admit to sometimes using effects just because they make me happy!

Cover art:

Like music/sound effects, this part is totally optional, but I usually do it because I have a lot of fun with it! I make everything in Canva, and again, I try to use public domain or creative commons images. Openverse is my go-to search engine because they make it really easy to tell which images I'm allowed to use in what ways. Sometimes I have a vision and try to find images to match; other times I have no idea and just see what I can find, or I can't find what I had in mind and have to switch gears.

Random facts that I couldn't find a spot for:

I learned how to read for an audience by being a lector at mass (reading either something from the Old Testament or something from the New Testament, other than the Gospels) in a church with lots of marble, which explains why I read on the slow side. Had to leave room for the echo before I started speaking the next line!

I've actually found that my own fic writing became easier to read aloud once I started podficcing. That doesn't make it better or worse—there are beautiful passages in literature/fic that are easier to read with the eyes than with the ears. But it is definitely a thing.

.

Thank you again for sending this ask! I hope this peek behind the curtain was interesting to you, even if it was probably far more than you were asking for xD And another thank you for listening to my podfics—it really does mean so much to me that something I've made can brighten up your day 💖

[the-empress-7]

Tell me again how BP "declined to comment", but Charles staff is out here giving out quotes like these on the record to The Times

According to a royal insider, Charles has tentatively welcomed the offer.

Yet now, the Times's royal source is upending years of estrangement, quite suddenly. Harry's return would 'benefit the institution', the insider said.

'On all practical levels it makes perfect sense for the family to come together to support the King while he's sick. Much has been said on both sides in recent years, but that has never diminished the fundamental bond of blood'.

[saintmeghanmarkle]

What will be left of Harold whenever Negan is done with him? Nothing. Why is he following her down this path of self-destruction? Who knows. by u/umbleUriahHeep

What will be left of Harold whenever Negan is done with him? Nothing. Why is he following her down this path of self-destruction? Who knows. In true Narc fashion, she is going to suck every last remaining drop of self-esteem, anything that gave Harry a sense of belonging, pride, or accomplishment. The pathetic thing is, he’s helping her. He’s too stupid and arrogant to realize that he’s dismantling the last remaining vestiges of public goodwill. Four years ago, she removed him from his family, friends, job, and nation.Last year, in his ILBW-ghostwritten, cringe-filled Spare book, he inflicted untold self-damage through the audiobook and the publicity tour. Then further humiliated himself with the Maté therapy session. Madam’s hand and voice was all over Spare, yet she was nowhere around on his media tour. He was just hanging out there alone and pathetic, like the sad sap he is.Now this stupid Legends farce is bringing out voices with receipts in both legacy media and social media— reviewing the details of what exactly Harry’s Afghanistan service entailed. And it turns out, it wasn’t much. He really WAS in a bunker. He SLEPT while American troops died. He didn’t fly. He was a menace. His fellow British soldiers provided a bodyguard unit. Today, the public are aware that we have been played. All that carefully crafted persona that BP built of Harry the Hero is blown to smithereens. 10 years ago, Harry’s image was important enough that the UK government applied pressure, ruining the career of the one US Marine general who spoke honestly about Bunker Harry. The Ministry of Defense squelched that story and the truth. And now? British commanders are speaking on record about how little Harry did. There’s a military source speaking on record in all the major tabloids as well as newspapers.And the only reason that the Harry the Hero image is getting deconstructed is because Harry and his Narc puppetmaster basically taunted all of us by shoving this Legends face in our face. His wife is Negan Narcle. When she’s done with him, Harold will be just a bloody pulp of a human being. He’ll be a generational joke, have lost all the public’s respect, and have nothing of his self-identity remaining. The only things he’s done to be proud of, she’ll have gotten him to throw away or destroy. And he is doing it enthusiastically!I cannot fathom that he still thinks he is the hero, the wronged son, the public’s favorite royal. I really do not understand these levels of stupidity, arrogance, blindness, and self-destruction.Some of us have victimized by a Narcissist. I hate seeing anyone fall under their thrall. If anyone deserves it, it’s Harry. But it’s not easy to watch. He’s going to be nothing soon. Just an empty, bald, angry sack. post link: https://ift.tt/qWI80QJ author: umbleUriahHeep submitted: January 13, 2024 at 09:58PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[causesciencethatswhy]

https://www.tumblr.com/causesciencethatswhy/731272916310851584/i-get-what-you-said-about-jungkooks-writing?source=share&ref=faeinthecloud1

Diff anon.

A correction, BTS did NOT got what jungkook got for seven idk who told you that but none of BTS's English songs got the kind of push seven got the reason being jungkook's whole solo (idk if we can all them solo cause they have feat in it) during chpt 2 involves scooter barun and he's the CEO of hybe America hence the difference in the push. BTS's songs were released under hybe korea so they never got those things. Thing is seven actually got the push no kpop grp and song ever got again the reason is scooter. Not even them bp girlies got that, no other hybe grp got that (cause they're under hybe korea), and no other kpop artist got that.

If BTS actually got that kind of push belive me seven would have not been able to break BTS's record. BTS got that number just because of armys.

I mean yes and no, I was there during dynamite/butter promotions and I will say bts went above and beyond the levels of promo jungkook has done for seven. I'm sure scooters involvement is probably helping in better playlisting but to say that dynamite/butter was carried solely by army's would be incorrect too. One of the big reasons for both dyna/butter longevity on the hot 100 was that they were actually getting more radio play and the songs exploded bts within the public consciousness in ways that we're still seeing the effects of with Seven. I'm not saying army's don't play a major role in the insane success of dynamite/butter (speaking from someone who pulled an all nighter to stay up and stream dynamite on youtube so we could get that 100 million view record) but to say bangtan didn't get a huge amount of industry support during this time would be dishonest. I would say it just gave army's a greater opportunity/avenue to break bts out even further because we knew that more people would be willing to give their music a chance if it's in English (which is unfortunate of course, if only people were more willing to let go of their prejudice but alas!).

I would say , Seven is able to reel in this type of numbers not just because hybe America and scooter pushed a few buttons and voila it's breaking all records , but because how much dynamite and butter broke bts into the mainstream that when similar project in the vein of these two songs later came from a bangtan member it had all the cards set in motion to be a big hit.

So one could funnily enough even say that dynamite/butter paved the way for sevens succcess. Im sure that if in the future bts were to release a similar song its going to do incredibly well as well and may possibly break sevens records too, if it gets this same line of promo from before.

It also helps that both Seven and 3d like it's older sisters from before are absolute bops .

[hospitalinzambia]

Understanding High Blood Pressure: A Silent Threat to Health

Why You Should Care About Blood Pressure Now

In Zambia today, more adults are silently living with a dangerous condition that often goes unnoticed—high blood pressure, also called hypertension. This “silent killer” affects both men and women and can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure if left unchecked.

If you're between 30 and 45, you’re in a critical age group where over 60% of health issues begin, and about 70% of these are preventable—but only with early diagnosis and consistent care. The unfortunate reality? Many people in Zambia only discover they have high blood pressure after a life-threatening event.

Let’s unpack what hypertension really is, why it happens, and what practical steps you can take to stay in control of your health.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure measures how strongly your blood pushes against your artery walls as your heart pumps it around your body. It's recorded with two numbers:

Systolic pressure (upper number): pressure during a heartbeat

Diastolic pressure (lower number): pressure between beats

A normal blood pressure is usually 120/80 mm Hg. Anything consistently above this range is considered high and needs medical attention.

If you’re over 60, a reading of 150/90 mm Hg or higher is a cause for concern.

Types and Causes of Hypertension

There are two main types of high blood pressure:

Primary (Essential) Hypertension: This develops gradually over many years without an identifiable cause. It is the most common form.

Secondary Hypertension: This occurs due to an underlying condition and often appears suddenly. Conditions that can cause secondary hypertension include kidney disease, thyroid issues, congenital heart defects, and side effects from medications such as birth control pills or decongestants.

The Hidden Problem: Why High Blood Pressure Goes Undiagnosed

Many people assume that if they don’t smoke and their weight seems normal, they are safe. That’s far from the truth.

In fact, stress, family history, and underlying health issues like thyroid or kidney problems are often overlooked reasons for high blood pressure. You can look fit and still be living with dangerously high readings.

What makes it worse? High blood pressure rarely shows symptoms. You might feel completely fine while your arteries are slowly being damaged.

Blood Pressure by Age: What’s Normal?

Normal blood pressure levels can vary slightly depending on age and gender. Generally:

For adults under 60: normal is considered to be below 120/80 mm Hg

For those aged 60 and above: up to 150/90 mm Hg may be acceptable

Your average blood pressure tends to increase with age. Here's a general guide for normal blood pressure levels:

Note: These values may vary based on gender. For instance, the average blood pressure for men in the 30–45 age range may trend slightly higher than for women.

Knowing the average blood pressure for women and average blood pressure for men in your age group helps you monitor your health better. Men may tend to have slightly higher readings due to lifestyle stress and biological factors, but both genders are at risk.

How is Blood Pressure Measured?

Blood pressure is measured using a cuff placed around your upper arm. The results are expressed in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and include both systolic and diastolic numbers. You can check your BP at local clinics, pharmacies, or even at home with a reliable digital monitor.

Monitoring your BP regularly helps detect early changes and allows timely intervention. For many Zambians, especially those with a family history of hypertension, this simple act can be lifesaving.

Know the Risk Factors: Why You Might Be at Risk

Lifestyle Triggers

Consuming fatty or salty foods

Smoking or drinking excessively

Lack of exercise or movement

High levels of stress or anxiety

Medical and Genetic Causes

Family history of hypertension

Obstructive sleep apnea

Kidney or thyroid conditions

Certain medications or recreational drugs

These factors affect both men and women. In Zambia, due to dietary habits and increasing urban lifestyle stress, these risk factors are becoming more common.

How High Blood Pressure Affects You

Unchecked high blood pressure puts strain on your heart and arteries, leading to:

Heart attack or heart failure

Stroke

Kidney damage

Eye problems

Cognitive decline over time

In women, especially post-40, average blood pressure for women tends to rise due to hormonal shifts. In men, stress and lifestyle choices often make average blood pressure for men increase in their late 30s and 40s.

What You Can Do: Prevention and Control

1. Get Checked Regularly

Don’t wait for symptoms. Visit your local clinic or hospital to monitor your blood pressure by age. Aim for at least two check-ups a year.

2. Eat for Your Heart

Reduce salt and oily foods

Include potassium-rich foods like bananas and beans

Choose whole grains and leafy greens

3. Stay Active

You don’t need a gym. Walking, dancing, or even gardening for 30 minutes daily can reduce your BP levels significantly.

4. Quit Smoking and Reduce Alcohol

These are major triggers that directly affect your arteries. Reducing or quitting can help normalize your readings.

5. Manage Stress

Practice deep breathing, talk to someone, or engage in relaxing activities. Chronic stress is a silent trigger for hypertension.

High Blood Pressure in Zambia: The Growing Need for Awareness

Healthcare professionals in Zambia are increasingly raising alarms about rising hypertension cases. Urban centres like Lusaka, Kitwe, and Ndola are seeing more adults with elevated blood pressure due to a mix of urban diets, sedentary work, and poor awareness.

Yet, early action can change the course. Local hospitals and clinics now offer Heart Health Packages that check not just BP but also cholesterol, sugar levels, and kidney function.

What You Should Do Next

If you’re 30 or older, schedule a check-up—even if you feel fine.

Monitor your BP levels if you have a family history of hypertension.

Talk to your doctor about the normal blood pressure levels for your age.

Ask about treatment options or lifestyle changes if your readings are even slightly elevated.

Conclusion: Don’t Wait for Symptoms

High blood pressure doesn’t knock on the door with pain or fever. It silently does its damage—and by the time symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or blurred vision appear, it may already be severe.

If you're in Zambia and over 30, now is the time to take control. Simple steps like regular check-ups, healthy eating, movement, and reducing stress can keep you—and your loved ones—safe.

Your heart doesn’t need perfection; it needs attention. So don’t delay. Get your blood pressure checked today.

[cytgen]

Abstract Leafhoppers, a broad group of Hemiptera insects, are economic pests that wreak havoc on agriculture and forestry. The genus Ossuaria was established by Dworakowska in 1979, Zhang and Yang discovered Ossuaria sichuanensis (Zhang and Yang, 2011) from China in 2011, but there is no molecular biological evidence to record the genus. To report complete mitochondrial genome of O. sichuanensis, DNA was extracted from the muscle tissue of adult insect and sequenced. The original data were assembled and annotated, a complete mitochondrial genome was mapped, and phylogenetic analysis was performed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The circular mitogenome of O. sichuanensis is 15.558 bp in length and including 37 typical genes (13 PCGs, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes) and a putative control region. The overall base composition is 42.89% A, 36.92% T, 11.02% C, and 9.17% G, and the A + T content is 79.81%. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the O. sichuanensis is the sisters of other members of the tribe Erythroneurini. The mitochondrial genome structure agrees with earlier research. The genus Ossuaria has been characterized at the molecular level for the first time, and additional research is required to determine how the tribe Zyginellini and the tribe Typhlocybini are related.

[simonhopes]

Bankroll Management for Gamblers: How Not to Go Broke

Gambling can be thrilling, strategic, and—let’s be honest—fun. But without a clear plan for managing your money, it’s easy to find yourself chasing losses or blowing your budget in a single night. That’s where bankroll management comes in. Whether you're a seasoned sports bettor, a weekend poker enthusiast, or new to online casinos, understanding how to protect your funds is essential to staying in the game long term.

In this guide, we’ll break down what a bankroll is, how to set one, explore popular staking plans, and share some simple tips for staying disciplined. We'll also include handy tools like downloadable spreadsheets to help you stay on top of your strategy.

What Is a Bankroll?

A bankroll is the amount of money you’ve set aside specifically for gambling. Think of it as your gambling budget—cash you can afford to lose, without impacting your daily life. This is not your rent money, grocery money, or emergency savings. It’s your entertainment fund for betting, gaming, and playing.

Why is a bankroll important? Because it gives you structure. Without it, you're far more likely to bet impulsively, chase losses, or stake too much in one go. Your bankroll acts as a buffer between your hobby and your financial wellbeing.

How to Set a Bankroll

Setting a bankroll is simple, but it takes a bit of honesty:

Evaluate Your Finances: Only allocate money that won’t impact your bills, savings, or daily needs. For example, if you have £200 left after monthly expenses, you might allocate £50 as your gambling bankroll.

Decide on Timeframe: Are you gambling weekly, monthly, or on occasion? A monthly bankroll is common for sports bettors, while casual casino players might set theirs for a night out.

Distribute Smartly: Once you know your total bankroll, divide it into smaller units. Most pros recommend keeping bets to 1–5% of your total bankroll per wager. That way, one bad day doesn’t wipe you out.

For example, if your bankroll is £500, you might stake £5–£25 per bet. Smaller stakes mean you can ride out losing streaks without going broke.

Staking Plans: How Much to Bet and When

A staking plan is a strategy that determines how much you’ll wager on each bet. The right plan helps you manage risk, smooth out results, and make smarter decisions. Here are three of the most common:

1. Flat Betting

Flat betting is the simplest and most beginner-friendly strategy. You bet the same amount every time, regardless of your confidence level or past outcomes.

Pros:

Easy to track and implement

Reduces emotional decision-making

Helps avoid big losses during cold streaks

Cons:

Doesn’t capitalize on high-confidence bets

Can feel slow in terms of profit gains

2. Percentage-Based Betting

With this method, you bet a fixed percentage of your current bankroll each time. For example, you might bet 2% of your bankroll per wager.

Example:

Start with £500

Bet 2% = £10 on your first wager

If your bankroll grows to £600, your new stake is £12

Pros:

Dynamically adjusts to your bankroll

Limits losses as bankroll shrinks

Can compound gains over time

Cons:

Stake sizes can fluctuate often

Requires more frequent bankroll tracking

3. Kelly Criterion

The Kelly Criterion is a more advanced method used by serious gamblers and investors. It uses probability to determine the optimal stake size based on your edge over the market.

Kelly Formula: (bp – q) / b Where:

b = decimal odds – 1

p = probability of winning

q = 1 – p

For example, if you believe a 2.50 odds bet has a 50% chance of winning: (1.5 × 0.5 – 0.5) / 1.5 = 0.1667, or 16.67% of your bankroll.

Pros:

Maximizes long-term returns

Scientifically driven

Cons:

Complex and requires accurate win probability estimation

Can recommend large stakes if your edge is high

Some bettors use a fractional Kelly (e.g., half-Kelly) to reduce volatility and protect their bankroll further.

Tips for Staying Disciplined

Track Every Bet

Use a spreadsheet or betting tracker to record:

Date and time

Event or game

Stake size

Odds

Result (win/loss)

Profit or loss

Tracking helps you:

Identify winning strategies and leaks

Stay accountable

Analyse your ROI over time

Avoid Emotional Decisions

It’s tempting to increase your stakes after a big win or chase a loss after a bad beat. This is where many gamblers spiral. Discipline is key.

Set these rules for yourself:

No betting when angry or intoxicated

Take breaks after a big win or loss

Stick to your staking plan no matter what

Set Limits and Review Regularly

Most reputable sportsbooks, including new brands like https://bettom.com/, allow you to set deposit and loss limits. Use these tools. They can save you from overextending during hot or cold streaks.

Every month, review your betting records:

Are you up or down overall?

Did you stick to your plan?

Are certain types of bets or sports more profitable?

Adjust your bankroll, reassess your staking plan, and continue evolving your strategy.

Final Thoughts

Gambling should be enjoyable, not stressful. With solid bankroll management, you can keep the fun going without risking more than you can afford to lose. Whether you prefer flat betting or want to experiment with the Kelly Criterion, staying disciplined and tracking your bets can keep your strategy sharp and your finances intact.

Remember: it’s not just about making money—it’s about not going broke while chasing the wins.

[nursingwriter]

Blood Pressure Treatment Compliance With Lifestyle Modifications Heart disease is unfortunately one of the most frequent killers in the United States. So many Americans suffer from various conditions involving heart disease, including hypertension. It is this reason that it is so important to catch potential problems early, and to attack them with strength and effective execution. Understanding how to attack the problem from all sides is crucial within the healthcare field, making it crucial to understand how to combine strategies to provide the most effective solution. In pre-hypersensitive adults this includes the combination of traditional therapies with changes in diet and lifestyle. The healthcare field must embrace the fact that not everyone will be dedicated to lifestyle changes, and thus help provide further support through monitored lifestyle modifications including patient education on self-management in order to help reduce dangerous high blood pressure levels. Literature Review The treatment of high blood pressure in patients with hypertension can vary depending on each individual case. In fact, Weber et al. (2009) show that often times popular drug treatments, even in collaboration with one another, can not be relied on to lower blood pressure levels to a safe enough level on their own. Weber et al. (2009) conducted a clinical trial working with patients with hypertension that had been slow to respond to traditional treatments alone. The study incorporated 379 patients and used drugs like diuretic in the experimental group, with a placebo in the control group. Minor blood pressure reductions were recorded, but with side effects including fluid retention and accumulation. The findings of this study do posit the idea that drug therapy alone may not be entirely successful in reducing blood pressure to safe levels as successfully as when combined with dedicate lifestyle modifications. Another study conducted by Wexler et al. (2009) stated "Physicians often overestimate their effectiveness of the care they provide," often because of a lack of training tools provided to both themselves and the patients they care fore (2). Wexler et al. (2009) shows that physicians often take a backseat role in supervising proposed lifestyle changes, and often fail to provide clear guidelines that their patients are enforced to follow. Here, the data shows that physicians often only facilitate the problem of their patients' noncompliance. This then brings up the question regarding what else is needed in order to provide more effective results in promoting healthier lifestyles and appropriate self-management. This has lead to the creation of studies that evaluate new control measures to facilitate greater patient awareness through physician monitoring and training. There is the common thought that lifestyle changes including dietary regulation, physical activity, and weight loss combined with drug therapies prove more successful than drugs used alone. One study, Cohen et al. (2011) showed that the practice of Iyengar Yoga was actually successful in helping lower blood pressure levels when compared to a control group. Blumenthal et al. (2010) conducted a study which reviewed the impact of combining the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and lifestyle modifications in terms of lowering blood pressure in patients. The DASH diet is a strict dietary regulation process that restricts individuals' consumption of various fats but supplemented with low-fat diary products, vegetables, and foods rich in fiber. The study itself participants were drafted who were currently not taking antihypertensive medications. Other requirements included a minimum age of 35, BMI of between 25 to 40, and finally a mean systolic BP of 130 to 159 (Blumenthal 2009). Monitoring of blood pressure levels was conducted through the use of clinic measured BP, ambulatory BP monitoring, the measuring of pulse wave velocity, flow-mediated dilation, baroreflex sensitivity, and left ventricular mass index. Nutritional and weight assessments were made, but conducted by self-reporting measures using a food frequency questionnaire. This was augmented through enforced interventions, where subjects were placed on two-week long periods of controlled feeding. This then represents a strict regulation and supervision of dietary measures and changes in diet reflecting the need to establish new lifestyle habits. Strict adherence of the DASH diet combined with lifestyle changes coached often by lifestyle counseling provide to have a significant impact on patient blood pressure levels, much more so than less regulated dietary changes. On the other hand, DASH diet restrictions are not as successful without such lifestyle changes, which show how necessary lifestyle counseling is in order to provide the best results for adult patients with high blood pressure. This correlates with another study, Balady et al. (2007) which showed that more direct and monitored interventions in lifestyle can have the greatest impact in reduction of blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health. This study gave several strategies of more direct and involved physician intervention in patient lifestyles including working with patients to create feasible treatment plans with realistic goals in lifestyle changes. However, the study clearly shows the limitations in current practice regarding the active role physicians need to be planning in more effective treatment programs to reduce blood pressure levels, and only provides solutions that are minor in supervision and often retroactive in terms of overall assessment of treatment goals. Another study conducted by Tuomilehto et al. (2009) used lifestyle counseling as a way to provide successful intervention strategies for another common complication experienced by overweight patients. The study examined lifestyle counseling and its role in helping patients better manage their weight in order reduce symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although this is much different than using patients with high blood pressure, the study helps examine the importance of lifestyle counseling in executing successful results, as well as helping provide a strong and effective model for other healthcare practitioners to emulate models for patients with other complications, such as high blood pressure as seen in the case of pre-hypertensive adults in need of strict lifestyle changes. The study duration lasted over the period of a year and examined seventy two overweight individuals suffering from mild OSA and with a body mass index between 28 and 40. The study pitted two groups against each other, one control group which received lifestyle counseling, and an experimental group which highly supervised lifestyle counseling readily enforcing a very low calorie diet in order to produce results of weight loss. This group was exposed to a rigorous 12-week course that was followed up with continual post-counseling meetings with healthcare professionals and lifestyle counselors. Researchers used statistical analysis by measuring the apnea-hypopnea index along with a predesigned scale of the 15-D Quality of Life Tool (Tuomilehto et al. 2009). Results did show over time that there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups, with the experimental group receiving more supervised lifestyle modification training being more successful in reducing body weight by an average of -3.5 on the BMI scale. This group then also saw a high reduction rate in OSA as well as higher ratings on the 15-D Quality of Life Scale. Researchers concluded that "intensive lifestyle counseling with an initial weight reduction program can be effective" in reducing BMI and poor dietary routines in overweight patients, in fact much more so than less strictly supervised counseling on lifestyle and dietary choices. This lead researchers to make the conclusion that the more supervision involved in the lifestyle modification training and counseling lead to greater success rates of lowering body weight to a healthier range. With other studies, Aizawa (2009), showing similarities between the success rates of lifestyle modification intervention strategies in comparison between diabetes and pre-hypertension patients, such strategies provided by Tuomilehto et al. (2009) could prove incredibly effective if adopted to reduce blood pressure levels as well as weight. However, Dusek (2008) shows that there are other treatment strategies that often work more successfully than supervised lifestyle modification strategies. This study compared stress management treatments, specifically using relaxation response training were statistically more effective in reducing blood pressure levels in patients to a safe enough level to end medication regiments. Participants in the study were over the age of 55 and participated in a double-blind randomized trial that was later measured through changing SBP levels over a period of eight weeks. This study helps show that lifestyle modification alone is not always as effective as some literature presents it, and that other treatments in training patients self-management prove effective as well. Yet, the idea that these trials depended on heightened physician training of methods does correlate with the idea that alternative treatment strategies should implement elements of monitoring and supervision throughout the treatment process. Additionally, Bonds et al. (2010) presented their evaluation of the Guideline Adherence for Heart Health (GLAD) with a trial of 61 primary care practices, some provided with multifaceted intervention strategies. Such strategies included education on medical strategies as well as audits and feedback on intervention adherence in correlation with automated blood pressure monitoring. Yet, the study found no statistical difference between the two groups, signifying that more multifaceted intervention strategies may not be as effective as physicians within the field would have hoped. Yet, a 2008 study, Smith et al. (2008), showed that lifestyle intervention strategies increased in effectiveness when combined with pramlintide treatment in the control of weight loss in patients with obesity. This shows that monitoring of lifestyle changes can effectively be implemented in conjunction with other drug therapies to provide the most effective results for patients in need. Additionally, another 2010 (Navidian et al.) study showed that although lifestyle monitoring may not have been much different in terms of systolic blood pressure, there were statistical differences in terms of diastolic blood pressure. In this study, 61 patients with systolic hypertension were split into two groups, where the control group was exposed to a rigid intervention strategy that promoted education and facilitated motivational interviewing. Navidian et al. (2010) shows that such monitored strategy situations can still impact blood pressure in a positive manner. Conclusion There are still mixed signals being sent by the literature here. On one hand, lifestyle modification strategies involving supervision seem to be more productive in helping patients adhere to their commitment. Yet, some research shows that this still does not have a significant impact on systolic blood pressure, but other studies show that diastolic levels were impacted. With these conflicting results, it is clear more trials are needed, especially within the more specific category of adults with pre-hypertension. Still, there are several recommendations for changing practice that can still be made based on the literature as it stands. There needs to be increased use of monitored intervention strategies in conjunction with drug treatments. The possibility of success is worth the effort, especially with so little to loose. Additionally, there needs to be more trials with different combinations of treatment combinations to provide more effective multi-faceted approaches to treatment strategies for lowering blood pressure levels. References Aizawa, K.; Shoemaker, J.K.; Overend, T.J.; & Petrella, R.J. (2009). Effects of lifestyle modification on central artery stiffness in metabolic syndrome subjects with pre-hypertension and/or pre-diabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 83(2), 249-256. Balady, G.J.; Williams, M.A.; Ades, P.A.; Bittner, V.; Comoss, P.; Foody, J.M.; Franklin, B.; Sanderson, B.; & Southard, D. (2007). Core components of cardiac rehabilitation / secondary prevention programs: 2007 update. Circulation AHA, 115(2007), 2675-2682. Bonds, D.E.; Hogan, P.; Bertoni, A.G.; Chen, H.; Clinch, R.; Hiott, A.E.; Rosenberger, E.L.; & Goff, D, C. (2010). A multifaceted intervention to improve blood pressure control: The Guideline Adherence for Heart Health (GLAD). American Heart Journal, 157(2), 278-284. Blumenthal, J.A.; Babyak, M.A.; Hinderliter, A.; Watkins, L.L.; Craighead, L.; Lin, P.; Caccia, C.; Johnson, J.; Waugh, R., & Sherwood, A. (2010). Effects of the DASH diet alone and in combination with exercise and weight loss on blood pressure and cardiovascular biomarkers in men and women with high blood pressure. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170(2), 126-135. Cohen, D.L.; Bloedon, L.T.; Rothman, R.L.; Farrar, J.T.; Galantino, M.L.; Volger, S.; Mayor, Christine; Szapary, P.O.; & Townsend, R.R. (2011). Iyengar yoga vs. enhanced usual care on blood pressure in patients with prehypertension to stage I hypertension: A randomized controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine. Article ID 546428. Web. http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/546428.pdf Dusek, J.A.; Hibberd, P.L.; Buczynski, B.; Chang, B.; Dusek, K.; Johnston, J.M.; Wohlhueter, A.L.; Benson, H.; & Zuxman, R.A. (2008). Stress management vs. lifestyle modification on systolic hypertension and medication elimination: A randomized trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(2), 129-138. Vavidian, A.; Abedi, M.R.; Baghban, I.; Fateizadeh, M.; & Poursharifi, H. (2010). Effect of motivational interview of blood pressure of hypertensive patients. Kowsar Medical Journal, 15(2), 115-121. Smith, S.R.; Aronne, L.J.; Burns, C.M., Kesty, N.C.; Halseth, A.E.; Weyer, C. (2008). Diabetes Care, 31(9), 1816-1823. Tuomilehto, H.P.L.; Seppa, J.M.; Partinen, M.M.; Peltonen, M.; Gylling, H.; Tuomilehto, J.O.I.; Vanninen, E.J.; Kokkarinen, J.; Sahlma, J.K.; Martikainen, T.; Soini, E.J.; Randell, J.; Tukianen, H.; & Uusitupa, M. (2009). Lifestyle intervention with weight reduction. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 179(2009), 320-327. Weber, M.A.; Black, H.; Bakris, G.; Krum, H.; Linas, S.; Weiss, R.; Linseman, J.V.; Warren, M.; & Lindholm, L.H. (2009). A selective endothelin-receptor antagonist to reduce nlood pressure in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. The Lancet, 374(9699), 1423-1431. Wexler, R.; Elton, T.; Taylor, C.A.; Pleister, A.; & Feldman, D. (2009). Physician reported perception in the treatment of high blood pressure does not correspond to practice. BMC Family Practice, 10(23). Web. http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2296-10-23.pdf Read the full article

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The Importance of Regular Blood Pressure Monitoring for Better Health

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a silent killer that affects millions worldwide. Regular blood pressure monitoring is crucial for maintaining good health, preventing complications, and ensuring timely medical intervention. With the advancement of technology, using an app for Blood Pressure Management has made it easier than ever for patients to track their BP levels. This article will explore the significance of blood pressure monitoring, the role of BP apps for patients, and the future of healthcare in managing hypertension.

Why is Blood Pressure Monitoring Important?

Blood pressure monitoring is essential for several reasons:

Early Detection of Hypertension: Regular tracking helps identify high BP levels before they become a severe issue.

Prevention of Heart Diseases: High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Better Medication Management: Monitoring BP helps doctors adjust medication doses effectively.

Improved Lifestyle Choices: Knowing your BP readings encourages healthier habits like diet control and exercise.

Reduced Risk of Kidney and Vision Problems: High BP can damage the kidneys and eyes if left unchecked.

Read More: Best Apps for Controlling High Blood Pressure

How Often Should You Monitor Your Blood Pressure?

Individuals with normal BP: At least once a year.

Pre-hypertensive individuals: Every few months.

Hypertensive patients: Daily or as per doctor’s advice.

Patients on BP medications: Regular monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of treatment.

Traditional vs. Digital Blood Pressure Monitoring

Traditional Methods

Manual Blood Pressure Cuffs: Requires skill to operate accurately.

Clinic Visits: Often inconvenient for regular monitoring.

Paper Records: Prone to loss or damage.

Digital and Smart BP Monitoring

BP Apps for Patients: Track readings automatically.

Wireless Blood Pressure Monitors: Sync with mobile devices for instant data logging.

Cloud-Based Storage: Ensures data is accessible anytime, anywhere.

Benefits of Using a BP App for Patients

Using an app for Blood Pressure Monitor app can significantly enhance health tracking. Some key benefits include:

Ease of Use: No need for manual recording; the app stores data automatically.

Real-Time Alerts: Sends notifications if BP readings are too high or low.

Data Analytics: Provides trends and insights for better BP management.

Doctor Connectivity: Allows seamless sharing of BP history with healthcare providers.

Lifestyle Tips: Many apps offer diet and exercise suggestions for better BP control.

Features to Look for in a BP App

When choosing a BP app for patients, consider the following features:

Accurate Readings: Ensure the app is compatible with a reliable BP monitor.

User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation for all age groups.

Cloud Synchronization: Back up your data securely.

Integration with Wearables: Sync with smartwatches or fitness trackers.

Multi-User Support: Ideal for family use.

Custom Reminders: Set alerts for medication and BP checkups.

The Future of Healthcare and Blood Pressure Monitoring

With advancements in digital health, the future of healthcare in BP monitoring looks promising. Here’s what to expect:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in BP Monitoring

AI-driven analysis can predict hypertension risks based on historical data.

AI-powered BP apps provide personalized recommendations for better health management.

Wearable Technology Integration

Smartwatches with BP sensors will make tracking more seamless.

Continuous BP monitoring without the need for manual measurements.

Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring

Patients can consult doctors remotely using their BP data.

Improved management of chronic hypertension through real-time updates.

Blockchain for Data Security

Secure storage of BP data.

Easy sharing with healthcare providers while maintaining privacy.

Genetic and Personalized Medicine

Personalized treatment plans based on genetic predisposition to hypertension.

AI-driven solutions for medication adjustments.

Read More: Streamline Patient Care with BPCorrect: A Doctor’s Perspective

Tips for Effective Blood Pressure Monitoring

Use a Reliable Device: Ensure your BP monitor is accurate and clinically validated.

Measure at the Same Time Daily: Consistency helps in accurate trend analysis.

Sit in a Comfortable Position: Keep your arm at heart level.

Avoid Caffeine or Smoking Before Measurement: These can temporarily raise BP.

Record Every Reading: Use an app for easy tracking and insights.

Conclusion

Regular blood pressure monitoring is a vital part of maintaining overall health. With the rise of digital solutions, using a BP app for patients has made it easier to track and manage hypertension effectively. As we move into the future of healthcare, technology will continue to play a significant role in improving patient outcomes. By embracing modern BP monitoring methods, individuals can take proactive steps toward a healthier life.