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Experts recommend home checks for high blood pressure
August 24, 2011
New guidance could improve the diagnosis and treatment of people with high blood pressure, a condition that becomes more common with increasing age.
Patients who are thought to have high blood pressure should be monitored at home to avoid so-called 'white coat hypertension', experts have said.
At present, patients typically have to make repeated trips to the clinic for readings, but the stress can often cause their blood pressure to rise, giving the impression they have hypertension.
Now, experts have issued new guidance that recommends 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) or home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) to give a more accurate diagnosis.
Professor Peter Littlejohns, clinical and public health director at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, said: "Because the likelihood of hypertension increases with age, with more people living longer, the overall prevalence of hypertension is expected to continue to rise.
"It's therefore vital that we have guidance which is based on the very latest evidence available."
Cathy Ross, the British Heart Foundation's senior cardiac nurse, revealed that around 12 million people have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, while a further 5.7 million are thought to be unaware they have the condition.
"It's a major risk factor for heart disease and strokes, so it's crucial we do all we can to get people diagnosed and properly treated as soon as possible," she added.
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