If you have HYPERTENSION but you want to minimize your medication.. here is what you should read ..

Hi, I am Winai B. , Adult Medicine Specialist ( Internal Medicine). I have summarize for you the key steps that a lot of my patient and me, when worked together , can minimize hypertension medication to the minimum.

Why keep a blood pressure journal?

One blood pressure measurement is like a snapshot and only tells what your blood pressure is at that moment. A record of readings taken over time provides a “time-lapse” picture of your blood pressure that can help you partner with your physician to ensure that your treatments  to lower high blood pressure  (HBP or hypertension) are working.

-AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

An example of our Hypertension Case that reports home BP monitoring on an interval base. Fortunately, he could minimize his medication ( in combination with lifestyle modification).

The American Heart Association recommends

• an automatic,

• cuff-style,

• bicep (upper-arm) monitor.

1. Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended (less reliable readings)

2. When selecting a blood pressure monitor for a senior, pregnant woman or child, make sure it is validated for the individual. Ask your doctor.

3. Make sure the cuff fits — measure around your upper arm and choose a monitor that comes with the correct size cuff.

Home blood pressure monitoring may be especially useful for:

1. Evaluating potentially false readings, like:

• People who only have high readings at the doctor’ s office (white coat hypertension). 

• People who only have high readings at home but not at the doctor’ s office (masked hypertension).

2. Anyone diagnosed with Hypertension and/or on treatment

3. Anyone with RISKS factors requiring close monitoring : pregnancy, elderly, kidney disease, heart disease or stroke patient.

Some patient may NOT be a good candidate to monitor home BP:

1. Arrhythmic patient such as atrial fibrillation because electronic home blood pressure devices may not be able to give accurate measurements.

2. Elderly with multiple medications

3. Easily anxious patient or anxiety cases

Ask your doctor to recommend a monitoring method that works for you.

Have a great week and read more on lifestyle modification for hypertension..

Winai B. M.D.