The Importance of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Doctors, diabetes educators, physician assistants, nurses and other healthcare professionals all recommend home blood pressure monitoring for various reasons. Home monitoring provides your healthcare professionals with better information to understand and manage your high blood pressure. Many types of hypertension can only be detected by monitoring your blood pressure at home, including:

• White-Coat Hypertension: Blood pressure reading is high in your doctor's office but lower at home.
• Masked Hypertension: Blood pressure reading is low in doctor's office but higher at home.
• Morning Hypertension: Blood pressure reading is higher in the morning.

Additionally, many factors can affect your blood pressure, including physical exertion, emotional fluctuations, medications and stress. So, having your blood pressure monitored at a pharmacy with an in-store device after you've been shopping or walking around might not provide you with the most accurate measurement. Monitoring your blood pressure at home allows you achieve a relaxed state more easily, and it gives you 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 your measurements over time. This can help them evaluate the effectiveness or need for medication.