How can you regularly monitor your blood pressure?

If you have been diagnosed with elevated blood pressure values, you have likely been advised to have regular check-ups. But what exactly are regular check-ups, and how and where can they be conducted?

Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Doctor's Office

At first glance, the most obvious option seems to be monitoring the blood pressure in the doctor's office. Here, blood pressure is usually measured as a standard procedure. Therefore, a certain level of control over the values is provided.

But: how often do you visit the doctor's office, and at what intervals are the blood pressure values checked there?

Typically, this is sufficient for a rough overview, but factors such as excitement during the doctor's visit or a certain level of stress can often distort the values. In some cases, the opposite can occur: the stressed patient in normal daily life becomes more relaxed in the doctor's office and therefore shows different blood pressure values there than in their everyday life. Both situations have specific terms related to white coat hypertension and masked hypertension.

Long-term Monitoring

If the blood pressure measurement at the doctor's office indicates the presence of high blood pressure, a long-term blood pressure measurement is usually conducted. In this case, the patient is fitted with a corresponding measuring device and sent home with it. This device automatically takes measurements during the wearing period and stores the results. The stored data is then read and evaluated by the doctor.

This provides a relatively accurate picture of blood pressure values in daily life. However, there are limitations due to the device: not every physical activity can be performed unrestrictedly during the wearing period, as the cuff is inflated to measure blood pressure, and the arm should be kept as still as possible. Additionally, regular measurements at night can disrupt sleep.

Despite these limitations, long-term blood pressure measurement is an important examination for diagnosing and managing high blood pressure. The resulting inconveniences should be accepted for the limited duration of the examination.

Blood Pressure Measurement in the Pharmacy

Another option for monitoring blood pressure is available in pharmacies.

Many pharmacies offer blood pressure measurement as a service. The process is similar to that in the doctor's office: after a short resting period, blood pressure is measured with an automatic blood pressure monitor or with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope. The values can then be noted on-site or directly entered into an app for documentation.

However, factors such as excitement and stress can also influence the results here. Furthermore, both monitoring blood pressure in the doctor's office and in the pharmacy require you to go to the doctor's office or pharmacy, and you may even need an appointment for that. Therefore, it involves a certain amount of effort.

Advantages of Home Measurements

Blood pressure measurement at home requires significantly less effort. All you need is a blood pressure monitor that suits your needs and physical conditions. With this, you can measure your blood pressure in your familiar environment while maintaining the necessary calm. It is also possible to conduct regular, guideline-compliant blood pressure measurements, which then provide a meaningful trend curve. This allows you to track changes, such as the success of a dietary change or lifestyle modification, as well as the effectiveness of a medication therapy.

The advantages of home blood pressure monitoring and using an app to document measured blood pressure values are also described by the ESC/ESH in their guidelines. The data obtained in this way are more reproducible and provide more insight into hypertension-related damage than just the blood pressure measurements taken in the office.

Thus, home blood pressure self-measurements offer not only convenience but also serve as an optimal complement to measurements taken at the doctor's office and can provide significant added value.

Additionally, factors such as white coat hypertension, which refers to elevated blood pressure only in the doctor's office, or masked hypertension, where blood pressure values measured in the doctor's office are lower than in daily life, are eliminated when blood pressure measurements are taken at home in a calm and consistent environment.

Moreover, it has been shown that individuals who monitor their blood pressure themselves are better able to adhere to the therapy coordinated with their doctor.

Here you can learn more about: When and how do I measure correctly?

Conclusion

Blood pressure can therefore be monitored regularly in various ways and kept in check. For diagnosing high blood pressure, measurements in the doctor's office and usually a long-term blood pressure measurement are essential. However, regular self-measurements at home can already provide an indication of elevated blood pressure values in advance and optimally depict their progression as well as the success of lifestyle changes or medication therapy.

The regularly self-measured and documented blood pressure values in the BloodPressureDB app can be organized into clear evaluations to take with you to the check-ups in the doctor's office. Depending on the individual progression, some long-term blood pressure measurements for control may be unnecessary.

Download the free BloodPressureDB app now and start monitoring your blood pressure optimally today.

Sources:

By Sabine Croci. This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (12/2023).
Information on the website and within the app cannot replace a consultation with a doctor, but can certainly complement it.

We hope you found the article on the topic helpful. Correct measurement is very important for good blood pressure management. Our app BloodPressureDB helps with that. Concrete explanations guide you through a guideline-compliant measurement. The app also reminds you if you wish. These features are also fully available in the free version. Get the free app now.

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