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1 in 3 Adults in the U.S. are affected by High Blood Pressure.(1) Research shows home blood pressure monitoring can be vital to reducing risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.(2) Monitor your blood pressure at home for you, your family, your life.
WHY IS HOME MONITORING IMPORTANT?
Doctors, physician assistants, nurses and other healthcare professionals recommend home blood pressure monitoring for various reasons, including the ability to:
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-Be constantly aware of a vital indicator about your overall health
-Provide your doctor with information to better understand and manage your high blood pressure
-See how you are responding to medication
Many types of hypertension can only be detected by monitoring your blood pressure at home, including:
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-White-coat Hypertension: blood pressure reading is high in doctor's office but lower at home
-Masked Hypertension: blood pressure reading is low in doctor's office but higher at home
Additionally, many factors can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations, medications and stress, so it's important to regularly monitor your blood pressure at home.
Monitoring your blood pressure at home allows you to more easily get to a relaxed state and the flexibility to take your measurements at various times during the day. By keeping track of your home blood pressure readings, you can provide your healthcare professional with a log of blood pressure measurements over time, which can help them evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment.
LOOK OUT FOR 135/85
Internationally recognized guidelines(2) for upper limit of HOME blood pressure is 135mmHg Systolic and 85mmHg diastolic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why are my blood pressure readings sometimes different?
A. Your blood pressure changes constantly based on your daily activities and time of day. Because of this, some fluctuations can be expected.
That's why it is important to use averages over time to compare
readings. Because each person is different, it's important to consult
with your doctor about what your numbers mean to you.
Q. Why could my doctor's reading be different than my
readings taken at home?
A. Having your blood pressure measured by a healthcare professional
in a doctor's office can cause nervousness and may result in an
elevated reading. Because these readings can vary considerably,
you should take your blood pressure on a regular basis at home
and share your results with your healthcare provider.
TOOLS YOU CAN USE
BP TRACKER Download our blood pressure tracker so you can keep track of your readings.
NEED MORE FACTS?
WebMD.com has a variety of positive resources available for those suffering from high blood pressure, hypertension and other types of heart disease.
(1)Hypertension. 2004;44:398-404
(2)Hypertension. 2008;52:10-29