More and more, our patients are becoming proactive about their health and increased access to affordable, reliable and portable home health tools like glucometers and blood pressure monitors only makes the doctors' job easier. Sort of. If done correctly, these tools can be an invaluable asset to your physician and your health. However, when they are done at inappropriate times or done incorrectly they can adversely affect the way you are treated and cause more harm than good.
Why is home monitoring important?
Going to your scheduled doctors' appointments and having your BP checked is indeed a necessary and important feature of your healthcare but it is only one snapshot of your blood pressure. Our circulatory systems are not a static object - they are constantly changing and accommodating external forces like what we eat and drink, our anxiety and stress levels, the ambient temperature, medications etc etc. A well-kept log of your readings taken regularly, at similar times every day, can provide us doctors with a much clearer picture of your blood pressure. It also eliminates those falsely high BP readings.
Going to your scheduled doctors' appointments and having your BP checked is indeed a necessary and important feature of your healthcare but it is only one snapshot of your blood pressure. Our circulatory systems are not a static object - they are constantly changing and accommodating external forces like what we eat and drink, our anxiety and stress levels, the ambient temperature, medications etc etc. A well-kept log of your readings taken regularly, at similar times every day, can provide us doctors with a much clearer picture of your blood pressure. It also eliminates those falsely high BP readings.
Who should home monitor?
- Patients starting meds for high blood pressure to determine its effectiveness
- Patients that need closer monitoring than occasional office visits provide, especially individuals with coronary heart disease, diabetes and/or kidney disease
- Pregnant women since preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension can develop rapidly
- People who have some high readings at the doctor's office, to rule out white-coat hypertension and confirm true HBP
- Elderly patients, because the white-coat effect increases progressively with age
- People suspected of having masked hypertension
Who should NOT home monitor?
People with atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias may not be good candidates for home monitoring. Why? Oscillometric-method monitoring devices recommended for use at home may not be able to give accurate measurements for people with these conditions. If your doctor recommends home monitoring, have your monitor's readings compared to readings taken by your office using the manual approach.
What type of monitor should I get and where?
The American Heart Association recommends an automatic, cuff-style, bicep (upper-arm) monitor. Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because they yield less reliable readings.
A quick look on Amazon.com yielded a variety of automatic cuffs ranging from about $30 - $60.
Search Amazon.com for bp monitor automatic
Your local pharmacy would also be a good resource but you should not have to pay more than $60 for a reliable cuff. Make sure it is automatic and not aneroid. If you have extra large arms, make sure the cuff fits before you purchase it.
What is the best way to measure my BP?
- Measure around your upper arm and choose a monitor that comes with the correct size cuff.
- Be still.
- Don't smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within the 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure.
- Sit correctly.
- Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, for example, rather than a sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor; don't cross your legs. Your arm should be supported on a flat surface (such as a table) with the upper arm at heart level. Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed directly over your brachial artery. Check your monitor's instructions for an illustration or have your healthcare provider show you how.
- Measure at the same time daily.
- It's important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as morning and evening, or as your healthcare professional recommends.
- Accurately record all your results.
- Record all of your readings, including the date and time taken. Share your blood pressure records with your healthcare team. Some monitors have built-in memory to store your readings; if yours does, take it with you to your appointments. Some monitors may also allow you to upload your readings to a secure Web site after you register your profile.
- Take advantage of the American Heart Association's BP tracking tools. Heart360 allows you to track your blood pressure and the steps you're taking to manage it online. You can print your readings to take or fax to your doctor.
- Understand the readings. Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg (systolic pressure is 120 AND diastolic pressure is less than 80). Read Understanding Blood Pressure Readings to learn more about what the numbers mean. Consult your healthcare professional if you get several high readings.
- A single high reading of blood pressure is not an immediate cause for alarm. However, if you get a high reading, take your blood pressure several more times and consult your healthcare professional to make sure you (or your monitor) don't have a problem. When blood pressure reaches a systolic (top number) of 180 or higher OR diastolic (bottom number) of 110 or higher, emergency medical treatment is required for hypertensive crisis.
Stay healthy!
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