The only way to know if we have high blood pressure is to have blood pressure measurements regular. And the best place for blood pressure measurement is home. The process of prevention- detection-treatment is the cornerstone of every successful high blood pressure control program.
The Value of Self-Measurement Blood Pressure at home
It provides vital information for white coat hypertension and masked hypertension diagnosis;
As a supplement to clinical blood pressure measurement for the guidance of antihypertensive treatment;
Elderly hypertension, pregnancy, diabetes, and refractory hypertension monitoring.
The normal blood pressure for self-measurement at home:
Blood pressure at home is usually lower than clinic blood pressure. The average blood pressure at home was 135/85 mm Hg, equivalent to 140/90 mm Hg in the clinic.
Monitor Selection for self-measurement:
There are mercury sphygmomanometers, spring-type sphygmomanometers, and electronic sphygmomanometers. With the mercury sphygmomanometer, you get the most reliable blood pressure measurement. However, it is hard for most people to handle the monitor. Thus, an upper arm electronic blood pressure monitor is recommended that provides accurate measurement and stores a certain amount of measurement data. No matter what kind of blood pressure monitor we use, we need to choose the appropriate Blood Pressure NIBP cuff according to our upper arm circumference, which will affect the accuracy of the results.
A standardized procedure for self-measurement
The initial stage
It refers to when the high blood pressure is just diagnosed and has no regular treatment, or the treatment effect is not satisfactory.
Require:
Continuously for seven days' blood pressure measurement. Once a day between 6 and 9 in the morning and between 18 and 21 in the afternoon. The blood pressure reading on the first day was excluded, and only take average blood pressure for the next six days.
Treatment stage
The treatment is guided by the blood pressure reading in the first week. If you want to change the treatment, it needs two weeks of self-measurement to evaluate the curative effect.
Follow-up phase
If hypertension is under control, you can measure blood pressure once a week. If not, or you still have fluctuating blood pressure, you have to increase the frequency of self-measurement of blood pressure, such as once a day in the morning and evening or several times a week.
Special circumstances
If you want a diagnosis of masked hypertension, white-coat hypertension, or refractory hypertension, you can measure blood pressure in the morning and evening for 2 to 4 weeks every day. If you want to know the 24-hour blood pressure fluctuations, you can increase the measurement frequency, such as 6-8 am, 12-2 pm, 4-6 pm, and 8-10 pm each time for 2 to 4 weeks.
Long-time observation
The blood pressure is stable and under control with the maintained treatment. Generally, you require blood pressure measurement once a week, in the morning and evening, and repeat the circle starting from the initial stage every 3 months.
