Here's why you should monitor your blood pressure at home
When people have high blood pressure that is usually uncontrolled they are at a greater risk of a heart attack, brain aneurysm, or stroke
Alisha Alam | Sep 10, 2018, 16:24 IST
A new study suggests that monitoring blood pressure at home can help people get hypertension under control. When people have high blood pressure that is usually uncontrolled they are at a greater risk of a heart attack, brain aneurysm, or stroke. And studies in the past have shown that people who monitor their blood pressure at home are usually a lot better off than people who don't. “The average physician is trying to see a patient every 10 to 15 minutes, so there’s barely time to go over medication, let alone talk about home blood pressure monitoring,” explains Roy Champion.
The researchers conducted the study wherein they provided free blood pressure check-ups at patients' homes. “Physicians were able to adjust patients’ blood pressure medications either up or down based on the information from home monitoring, so that they were at the most appropriate dose,” says Champion. “Patients who agreed to be in this study and do the home monitoring may have been more motivated and would have had better outcomes anyway,” explains Swapnil Hiremath, M.D., M.P.H., a hypertension specialist. So, looks like this simple step can really go a long way. Stay tuned for more updates.
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