The Benefits of Monitoring Your Blood Pressure At Home

by | Jan 15, 2020 | Hypertension/High Blood Pressure | 0 comments

With 50-million people believed to be living with hypertension, and a third of them going undiagnosed, the advent of blood pressure monitoring at home gives people a chance to take charge over their own health. Because high blood pressure is known as the ‘silent killer’ and often doesn’t present with any symptoms, people who take their own readings can adopt a more preventive approach to their wellbeing.  Even if you are taking medication and seeing your doctor regularly, monitoring your readings between visits may be recommended by your doctor at low cost medical clinics in Las Vegas.

What Should You Buy?

As with all kinds of equipment, there’s a wealth of options available to you and, purchasing may not seem as simple as you expect it to be. Experts recommend you look at electronic monitors with digital displays to get the most accurate readings. Other types, such as mercury or anenoid devices may require a stethoscope for you to get an accurate reading.

Electronic devices are simple and user-friendly, and some are even being used in clinics because of their accuracy. The price tag for high quality hovers between $40 and $60, depending on the features you go for. For people with arthritis, self-inflatable cuffs can make taking a reading a bit easier, as you don’t have to pump them up yourselves whereas others will keep a record of previous readings or give you a print out to show your doctor on your next visit.

The Advantages of Self-Monitoring

Self-monitoring gives you a chance to see if you have what’s known as ‘white coat hypertension’, high blood pressure that only presents when you see your doctor. For some people, the only way to establish if this is the problem is to self-monitor blood pressure levels themselves. Self-monitoring also saves you the potential drama of only finding out about hypertension when it’s too late and organ damage or another serious side effect sends you into the emergency room.

It is important to note that self-monitoring should never replace visits to your doctor and should act as a complementary process that enables you and your doctor to work together to manage your hypertension. It is equally important that you carry on taking your medication as prescribed by your doctor and make the necessary lifestyle adjustments he recommends. Low cost clinics in Las Vegas will be able to help you select the most accurate monitor for your needs.