HEALTH
Reading Good Keeping your blood pressure in check
Getting your blood pressure taken is a routine part of any medical visit. But if you have high blood pressure, your healthcare provider might want you to monitor it more fre- quently — from the comfort of your own home. While it might seem a little intimidating at first, keeping
track of your blood pressure on a daily basis has numer- ous benefits. First, research shows that people who monitor their blood pressure at home are more likely to reach their blood pressure goals than those who don’t. But doing so also gives your provider a better picture of
how well controlled your blood pressure may be. Self-mon- itoring can reveal whether your medications are working and whether levels fluctuate away from the medical setting, which will help your provider determine the best treatment for your condition. Both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Society of Hypertension recom- mend home monitoring for those with high blood pressure.
Taking It: When and How For most people with high blood pressure, taking two or three readings in the morning and again at night a few times a week should be sufficient, according to advice from the Harvard Women’s Health Watch. Readings should be taken a few minutes apart to ensure
accuracy. Monitoring too often, however, should be avoid- ed, as it can lead to anxiety over minor fluctuations. If major changes occur, it’s best to consult your provider.
10 | MATTERS OF HEALTH
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