| There was a time, not all that long ago, when | | | | pressure monitor as that is how long you would |
| doctors scoffed at the idea of people measuring their | | | | normally wear it for. The results are recorded by this |
| own blood pressure at home. Heresy almost. The | | | | machine and then analysed by your doctor. This will |
| problem or jaundiced view was further compounded | | | | help him to see if you have morning surges in |
| by the fact that the early monitors tended not only | | | | pressure, if it varies through the night and if you |
| to be inaccurate but were also pretty expensive. It | | | | suffer from white coat hypertension. The results will |
| was in 2004 that the American Heart Association | | | | also tell him if the medication he has placed you on is |
| started championing home blood pressure | | | | actually working. |
| measurement. This followed on from studies where it | | | | Whilst the apparatus is quite small there can be some |
| was reported that many readings taken by doctors | | | | minor discomfort when wearing the cuff as it inflates |
| in their surgeries may have been unreliable. This is | | | | and deflates every 15 minutes or so. |
| what has led to home monitoring becoming more | | | | This monitor is used a lot for those who have severe |
| generally accepted. There is also the fact the modern | | | | hypertension, particularly with older patients. It |
| monitors are now very accurate as well as being | | | | determines the average blood pressure during the |
| extremely reasonably priced. | | | | day and night and is far more informative for your |
| When faced with problems in determining the | | | | doctor than having to go on just a measurement or |
| severity or extent of a patients hypertension your | | | | two taken whenever you visit him in his surgery. |
| doctor may or may not decide to use an ambulatory | | | | Ambulatory blood pressures may not be the answer |
| monitor to give him an accurate picture of your | | | | for everyone who suffers from hypertension nor are |
| pressure throughout the day. The monitor is attached | | | | they necessary for everyone who does suffer but if |
| to a belt at your waist and is connected from there | | | | you do have high blood pressure, in addition to |
| to the cuff around your upper arm. It measures your | | | | regular visits to your doctor you should be monitoring |
| pressure every 15 to 30 minutes during the day and | | | | yourself at home as well. |
| night. Sometimes it is referred to as a 24 hour blood | | | | |