Blood pressure monitoring is one of the most common activities
in a medical practice. Patients that
have been diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular
disease, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, all require
continuous blood pressure monitoring.
However, high blood
pressure can also be checked at home.
In fact, a recent study showed that monitoring blood pressure at home for two days can
be a much better alternative to costlier methods of multiple visits to a doctor
or clinician.
The Study
The study assessed that performing 20 measurements of blood pressure in two days can offer a stable and reliable representation of the resting diastolic and systolic blood pressure of the patients.
The researchers determined that 10 readings of blood pressure
everyday are as statistically representative as 15 readings each day. They believed that an increased frequency of
blood pressure reading and decreased duration might offer a more stable and
realistic representation of the resting blood pressure of the patients.
The results showed that the reading of 10 blood pressure
measurements in 2 days did offer a pragmatic and stable approach towards
monitoring blood pressure at home. The
results indicated that it can be a better alternative for patients rather than
costlier methods of monitoring blood pressure at a clinician or surgery.
Blood
Pressure Readings
In order to take the right blood pressure readings at home, it is
important that you understand how it works.
The blood pressure is taken in two numbers – diastolic (bottom number)
and systolic (top number). For example,
if you have a 120/80 mm Hg blood pressure, it would be read as 120 over 80.
Aside from this, there are seven classifications of BP and definitions of hypertension, as per the most recent ESH/ESC Guidelinespublished in European Heart Journal, Volume 39, Issue 33, 01 September 2018. These categories are:
|
Category
|
Systolic
(mmHg)
|
Diastolic
(mmHg)
|
|
Optimal
|
<120
|
<80
|
|
Normal
|
120–129
|
80–84
|
|
High
normal
|
130–139
|
85–89
|
|
Grade 1
hypertension
|
140–159
|
90–99
|
|
Grade 2
hypertension
|
160–179
|
100–109
|
|
Grade 3
hypertension
|
≥180
|
≥110
|
|
Isolated
systolic hypertensionb
|
≥140
|
<90
|
Table: Classification of office blood pressure and
definitions of hypertension grade
The condition of hypertensive crisis is extremely serious and needs
medical attention. If you have a high
blood pressure and are experiencing symptoms such as speaking difficulty,
vision problems, weakness, numbness, back pain, breathing difficulty, or chest
pain then you must immediately call for emergency medical assistance.
The Benefits of Home Monitoring
Monitoring your blood pressure at home has numerous advantages,
including enhanced reproducibility, cost effectiveness, and improved tolerance.
It is even considered to provide more
accurate readings as compared to the blood pressure readings taken in doctor’s
offices.
Regular home monitoring helps in reducing the risk of hypertension,
and also encourages patients to take charge of their health and become more
involved in their long-term care, instead of solely relying on a doctor’s
visit.
Moreover, it also helps patients to learn to
manage their blood pressure by adapting a healthier lifestyle, thereby
enhancing their overall health.
