Your doctor will be able to advise you on whether home monitoring is suitable for you. There is also little known about the benefits of home monitoring during pregnancy and for people with vascular problems (conditions which affect the blood vessels). Some health problems may also mean that home monitoring isn’t suitable for you, for example conditions that affect your pulse such as atrial fibrillation. In our 2016 survey of home monitoring, nine out of 10 (87%) said home monitoring is helpful, reassuring or empowering, while 13% found it caused anxiety.īefore you decide to try monitoring your blood pressure at home, ask yourself: will using a home blood pressure monitor make me feel more relaxed or more worried? Some people become more anxious when they start measuring at home and end up taking readings too often, this can even temporarily raise your blood pressure. Measuring your blood pressure with a home blood pressure monitor can be very useful, but it’s not for everyone. Is using a home blood pressure monitor right for you? If your friend or family member are unable to operate the machine themselves and you check their blood pressure for them, make sure you're both wearing face masks. Make sure you wash your hands before and after using your machine.use a plastic bag or plastic gloves to cover and handle the machine – it will still work through a plastic layer – then throw the plastic away after use.quarantine your monitor for a minimum of 24 hrs after using it, or.There is no fixed protocol available, so we've developed these guidelines to help you keep your monitor clean and safe if you are lending it to a friend: If you're lending your monitor to a friendĪs viruses can live for some time on plastics and fabrics, you'll need to keep your monitor clean if you lend it to a friend. Read more about coronavirus if you have high blood pressure. If you need any advice, pharmacies are open and will be able to support you. Make sure you keep taking your blood pressure medicines as prescribed. See the signs of a heart attack and signs of stroke from the NHS. The NHS would much rather you seek help than go without treatment you need. Always call 999 in an emergency, for example if you think you are having a heart attack or stroke – even if you’re not sure. While you are at home, if you notice unusual symptoms that you are concerned about do contact your doctor by phone or online, or another NHS service. You can also read the reasons why home monitoring can be helpful and if it’s right for you in this section, and how and when to measure your blood pressure.įeel free to contact our blood pressure helpline by phone on 020 7882 6218 or by email at with questions about home monitoring, your blood pressure and heart health. If you are looking to buy a home monitor, please see our advice below on how to choose one. Don’t worry about one-off high readings, it’s normal for your numbers to vary. If you notice a consistent rise in your blood pressure, contact your GP or practice nurse by phone and they will advise you if you need an appointment. There is no need to check your blood pressure more often unless your doctor or another health professional has advised you to do so. If you monitor your blood pressure at home, keep going as normal, whether that’s once a week or once a month, for example. Home monitoring during coronavirus (COVID-19) Many people also find that monitoring their blood pressure at home helps them feel more in control, so since 2001, NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) have recommended GPs offer home blood pressure monitoring. The stress of having your blood pressure measured in clinic can make your blood pressure go up temporarily, so your reading is higher than it should be – this is known as the white coat effect or white coat syndrome.Ĭoupled with the fact you can only check your blood pressure in a clinic every so often, keeping an eye on your numbers at home can give you and your doctor or nurse a more complete picture of what your blood pressure is like from day to day, and how well your treatments or lifestyle changes are working. Vist the hub to watch our 'how to measure your blood pressure at home' video, read our tips for how to use your home monitor, how to get the most from your monitor and download our home blood pressure monitoring resources. We have also created an online resource hub to help you manage and measure your blood pressure at home. Here we explain how home monitoring can be helpful and how to choose a monitor. To make sure you get reliable readings, it’s important to use a monitor that’s suitable for you and that you know how to use it. Home blood pressure monitoring can be a really useful way of seeing what your blood pressure is like in your daily life.
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