Importance of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Nearly half of adults in the U.S have hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, and only one in four of those adults have their blood pressure controlled. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to life-threatening complications and even death.

For many Americans diagnosed with high blood pressure or those with high risk factors, routine home blood pressure monitoring can be one of the most effective ways to help manage hypertension. Although a doctor will take your reading during a visit, it is only a snapshot taken at that single moment. A home blood pressure monitor more accurately captures your blood pressure over time and gives your doctor a better understanding of your average daily reading.
“Clinical guidelines recommend measurement of home blood pressure in order to appropriately identify and treat high blood pressure,” explains Catherine A. Callan-Heiligmann, APRN, nurse practitioner at The Hospital of Central Connecticut’s Heart & Vascular Institute and director of population health at Hartford HealthCare’s Integrated Care Partners. “Clinical studies have shown home blood pressures are more accurate than blood pressures taken in the office.”

Read more about blood pressure monitor options and how to take your blood pressure accurately on the Hartford HealthCare NewsHub.