The short answer to that question is that measuring your blood pressure at home can help in two ways:¹

• Firstly, it can help your doctor diagnose high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
• Secondly, if you’ve already been diagnosed, self-monitoring can help get your blood pressure (BP) under control.

In fact, a relatively recent study suggested that home BP monitoring might help you reach your blood pressure goal more quickly.²

As important, controlled scientific studies have also shown that self-measured BP predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality better than just relying on the measurements during your doctor’s appointment.¹ Morbidity is a term that refers to other diseases, for example, heart disease or stroke, while mortality refers to death.

Why do these benefits occur?

There are a number of possible reasons why home monitoring works so well.

Measuring at home provides a more accurate picture of what’s happening with your blood pressure, because it’s not just a single snapshot – it looks at patterns over a longer period of time.¹

It also allows your doctor to see if your medications are working or if dosage needs to be adjusted – or even a switch to a different medicine is required.

It avoids white coat hypertension. White coat hypertension is a phrase that is used to explain the situation where your blood pressure is elevated when you’re in the doctor’s rooms but is normal at other times. It affects around 20% of the population, so it’s fairly common.³

Motivation. Studies have shown that patients who monitor their blood pressure at home are more ‘engaged’ with their BP management, motivating them to meet targets set by their doctor. In addition, self-monitoring seems to improve adherence with medication and other treatment such as lifestyle changes.⁴

How do I measure BP at home?

Good quality, certified home blood pressure monitors are very accurate, very easy to use, and above all, quite affordable. Many are also battery operated and portable, so you can take the reading where and when you are comfortable – and you can take it with you on holidays or weekends away.

All you need to do is wrap the cuff around your upper arm (just like the doctor does), sit comfortably with your arm resting on a table at heart height, and push the start button. Make a note of the reading for your doctor if necessary. It’s that simple.

Check out the very affordable and accurate Heart Sure Blood Pressure Monitor here.

Always read & follow the instructions for use & health warnings. For people with high blood pressure. Consult your doctor to evaluate the readings. Check your device periodically for accuracy.

Sources:

1. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/hypertension/what-you-need-know-about-self-measured-blood-pressure-monitoring
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-benefits-of-do-it-yourself-blood-pressure-monitoring
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/could-white-coat-hypertension-harm-your-heart-2019112918384
4. https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/home-monitoring-of-blood-pressure