Home BP monitoring involves measurement of BP in the living environment. It helps by involving the patient in the treatment and to understand more about high BP and it also increases the chance of taking tablets regulary.It helps the doctor to find out whether the medicines are controlling the BP during most of the time.
It is not a substitute for your regular clinic or hospital visit. Do not stop medications without consulting your doctor when the BP is within normal limits at home.
How to measure the BP at your home?
- Use a reliable and validated BP monitor according to internationally accepted validation protocols
- Once in a year bring the BP machine to clinic for comparing with clinic BP values
- Avoid coffee ,smoking or exercise 30 min before measurement of BP
- Be in a relaxed state
- Sit in a chair with both feet touching the ground and back supported. Avoid crossed legs while sitting
- Empty the bladder 10 min before measurement of BP
- Take 2 readings in the morning with 1 or 2 mins gap before taking medications and take 2 readings in the evening in the same way
- 1 week monitoring before each clinic visit is useful
Home BP monitoring is useful in the following situations:
- All patients with suspected high BP
- To diagnose white coat hypertension
- To diagnose masked hypertension
- To diagnose Resistant hypertension(BP not controlled with 3 tablets)
- Patients with giddiness on getting up from lying down (especially when patient is on BP tablets)
Home BP monitoring Improves patients adherence to treatment as he is also actively involved in the treatment process.
Normal Home BP values:
Home BP values should be less than 130/80 mmHg. Values above 135/85 mmHg is considered high BP and intervention is required.
Limitations:
Home BP monitoring is not recommended for patients with irregular heart rates. BP fluctuations during sleep can not be detected by Home BP monitoring. Only 24 hours Ambulatory monitoring can detect whether normal night time fall in BP occurs or not.
