Why home assessments of blood pressure may be the most accurate, and critical to the prevention of cardiovascular events
Blood pressure readings in medical settings may be unreliable, more often than you might think and for a couple of different reasons.
One interesting phenomenon observed in clinical settings is something called WHITE COAT HYPERTENSION, which refers to blood pressure that is higher at the doctor’s office than it is in other settings (i.e. if taken at home). This discrepancy in readings is generally attributed to the anxiety and stress of being in a medical setting in the first place, which can trigger a fight-or-flight response, or a stress response, driving some of our vasoactive neurotransmitters and hormones up, hence causing a temporary spike in blood pressure.
On the other hand, there is also such a thing as MASKED HYPERTENSION, which is the exact inverse occurrence, defined as lower blood pressure readings at the doctor’s office than at home or in other settings. Masked hypertension appears to be more prevalent among men, tobacco users, those who drink excess alcohol and those who have diabetes. While the exact causes are hard to pinpoint, it is largely assumed that individuals who have high stress jobs or have a stressful home situation might be more relaxed at the doctor’s office. Their blood pressure could then conceivably skyrocket as soon as they return to their everyday life stressors.
Both of these phenomena are obviously difficult to observe.
Even when discovered, healthcare providers are still unable to delve into their causes and inspect blood pressure fluctuations, unless a home monitor is available to the patient to keep track of changes, and communication lines with the patient are open. Remote monitoring allows physicians to note incongruities and proceed to a potentially life-saving course of action. Likewise, for anyone to be able to observe such inconsistencies in their own readings, regular and continuous self-monitoring is needed away from the doctor’s office.
Research has in fact established that these incongruities may register an increased potential for cardiovascular disease and other complications in the patient’s future.
A GHD personal blood pressure monitor that is directly linked to your physician’s phone and computer, with no need for bluetooth, is the single best ally you can have while working on eliminating the causes of your hypertension. Ideally you should take your blood pressure once a day or every two days, and your readings as an adult should be less than 120 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic).
PM us or email us at info@greathealthdesigns.com for info on how to get your own personal electronic blood pressure monitor or body scale, or ask your physician to contact us directly.
[Author: Ursula Avella]
Blood pressure readings in medical settings may be unreliable, more often than you might think and for a couple of different reasons.
One interesting phenomenon observed in clinical settings is something called WHITE COAT HYPERTENSION, which refers to blood pressure that is higher at the doctor’s office than it is in other settings (i.e. if taken at home). This discrepancy in readings is generally attributed to the anxiety and stress of being in a medical setting in the first place, which can trigger a fight-or-flight response, or a stress response, driving some of our vasoactive neurotransmitters and hormones up, hence causing a temporary spike in blood pressure.
On the other hand, there is also such a thing as MASKED HYPERTENSION, which is the exact inverse occurrence, defined as lower blood pressure readings at the doctor’s office than at home or in other settings. Masked hypertension appears to be more prevalent among men, tobacco users, those who drink excess alcohol and those who have diabetes. While the exact causes are hard to pinpoint, it is largely assumed that individuals who have high stress jobs or have a stressful home situation might be more relaxed at the doctor’s office. Their blood pressure could then conceivably skyrocket as soon as they return to their everyday life stressors.
Both of these phenomena are obviously difficult to observe.
Even when discovered, healthcare providers are still unable to delve into their causes and inspect blood pressure fluctuations, unless a home monitor is available to the patient to keep track of changes, and communication lines with the patient are open. Remote monitoring allows physicians to note incongruities and proceed to a potentially life-saving course of action. Likewise, for anyone to be able to observe such inconsistencies in their own readings, regular and continuous self-monitoring is needed away from the doctor’s office.
Research has in fact established that these incongruities may register an increased potential for cardiovascular disease and other complications in the patient’s future.
A GHD personal blood pressure monitor that is directly linked to your physician’s phone and computer, with no need for bluetooth, is the single best ally you can have while working on eliminating the causes of your hypertension. Ideally you should take your blood pressure once a day or every two days, and your readings as an adult should be less than 120 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic).
PM us or email us at info@greathealthdesigns.com for info on how to get your own personal electronic blood pressure monitor or body scale, or ask your physician to contact us directly.
March 15th 2021
[Ursula Avella]