| Home blood pressure monitors for measuring | | | | really wants to visit their doctor? You only ever |
| your blood pressure at home have only fairly | | | | really go there if there is something wrong with |
| recently become accepted by the medical | | | | you so it's not a trip you look forward to. |
| fraternity. There was an attitude, not so long ago | | | | By measuring your blood pressure at home you |
| either, amongst these professionals that | | | | get past this problem and by taking it throughout |
| measuring it at home was not as accurate as the | | | | the day you can provide your doctor with a |
| readings taken in their offices with their mercury | | | | detailed record of how it is behaving. This will help |
| sphygmomanometers and that buying one was | | | | him to better treat you and more accurately |
| just a waste of money. At that time, and to be | | | | prescribe medication for you. |
| fair to them, these machines were not all that | | | | If you are already being treated for hypertension |
| accurate and they were expensive. However we | | | | monitoring it at home is a way of providing your |
| have come a long way since then and a lot of | | | | doctor with information that will help him to see if |
| digital monitors are now extremely accurate and | | | | he has put you on the correct medication and at |
| very reasonably priced. | | | | the right doses. |
| So back to the question. Why should you | | | | It is not practical to visit every week to get your |
| measure it at home? | | | | bp checked out. And if you have started a new |
| Measuring it at home can help your doctor to | | | | exercise program or are trying to lose weight in |
| treat you correctly. Many people who visit | | | | order to help with the management of your blood |
| doctors rooms to have it checked experience | | | | pressure then keeping a track of it as your |
| "white coat" hypertension. This is where your | | | | program progresses is a very good idea. Not only |
| pressure shows up as higher than it would | | | | does it give you a record of your progress and |
| normally be just because it is being tested by | | | | the effect it is having on you but it can also be |
| your doctor or other medical professional. Once | | | | very motivating. Being able to see the effect |
| you leave or when you get home it returns to its | | | | your program is having on your health helps you |
| normal levels. | | | | to persevere and keep at it. |
| Whilst these people may not be outwardly aware | | | | Often if you are not able to see any progress or |
| of being under stress visiting your doctor's rooms | | | | benefit you tend to lose interest and the whole |
| does induce stress and anxiety. After all who | | | | thing dies away. |