Here's what England's NICE say about diagnosing hypertension. COmpare the difference between ambulatory measurement, and home measurement.
We know that most people can't even take their medication properly (many organ transplants fail because people don't comply with the medication regime, for example) so easier blood pressure monitoring would probably be useful. Especially if you combine it with something that can lower blood pressure.
> If the clinic blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher, offer ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension. [new 2011]
> When using ABPM to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension, ensure that at least two measurements per hour are taken during the person's usual waking hours (for example, between 08:00 and 22:00).
> Use the average value of at least 14 measurements taken during the person's usual waking hours to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension. [new 2011]
> When using home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension, ensure that:
> for each blood pressure recording, two consecutive measurements are taken, at least 1 minute apart and with the person seated and
> blood pressure is recorded twice daily, ideally in the morning and evening and
> blood pressure recording continues for at least 4 days, ideally for 7 days.
> Discard the measurements taken on the first day and use the average value of all the remaining measurements to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension. [new 2011]
We know that most people can't even take their medication properly (many organ transplants fail because people don't comply with the medication regime, for example) so easier blood pressure monitoring would probably be useful. Especially if you combine it with something that can lower blood pressure.
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg127/chapter/Key-priorities...
> Diagnosing hypertension
> If the clinic blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher, offer ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension. [new 2011]
> When using ABPM to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension, ensure that at least two measurements per hour are taken during the person's usual waking hours (for example, between 08:00 and 22:00).
> Use the average value of at least 14 measurements taken during the person's usual waking hours to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension. [new 2011]
> When using home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension, ensure that:
> for each blood pressure recording, two consecutive measurements are taken, at least 1 minute apart and with the person seated and
> blood pressure is recorded twice daily, ideally in the morning and evening and
> blood pressure recording continues for at least 4 days, ideally for 7 days.
> Discard the measurements taken on the first day and use the average value of all the remaining measurements to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension. [new 2011]