Those who have been diagnosed with hypertension will know that taking blood pressure readings can be both time-consuming and stressful, especially when in a medical environment. During readings, patients may find themselves wondering:
- “What if my blood pressure (BP) has gone up again?”
- “Hmm, 165/100… is this measurement accurate?”
- “Is anxiety causing the reading to be higher than normal?”
If any of these concerns sound familiar, you will likely find value in this article. We will discuss:
- Why blood pressure monitoring is important (and how often high blood pressure should be checked to stay safe)
- The seven main flaws of standard methods to measure blood pressure
- A more convenient way to monitor blood pressure that gives you and your physician the necessary data at your fingertips
Why is blood pressure monitoring so important?
Regular blood pressure monitoring can give valuable insight into baseline health.The latest data points to a big problem, and it is estimated that globally, 1.4 billion people have hypertension; that’s roughly 1 in 5 adults worldwide.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the number one cause of heart attacks and strokes around the world with a mortality rate of around 50,000 people per day. However, due to a lack of regular, easily-accessible monitoring, many people are in the dark about the extent of their blood pressure issues and that they may be exposed to this silent killer:
- 50% of people are not aware that they have hypertension
- 50% of those with a diagnosis do not have their blood pressure under control
Despite encouraging progress in cardiovascular medicine, the number of patients using blood pressure control measures is extremely low:
“Hypertension is the single largest preventable risk factor for death, and despite many options for treatment and measurement, is still poorly treated: only 20% of hypertensive people worldwide have their BP under control.”
– Dr Jay Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Aktiia, Cardiology and Aortic Diseases at Mayo Clinic
Without a diagnosis, it’s impossible to access the right treatment and without treatment, medical issues can quickly snowball. For this reason, regularly measuring blood pressure is so important as it can reveal early anomalies in data and allow medical intervention more quickly. More importantly, for those patients already diagnosed with hypertension, ready access to accurate tools that allow easy blood pressure monitoring will allow them to track their blood pressure long-term and take steps to reduce it, likely improving their long-term health outcomes.
Get exclusive access to our expert insights and tips for accurate blood pressure monitoring. Sign up for our newsletter today!
How often should blood pressure be checked?
Weekly? Daily? 24/7? It can be hard to:
- Know how often you should check your blood pressure, and
- Remember to take readings at the correct times
These common challenges can also be significant barriers to those diagnosed with hypertension checking their blood pressure as frequently as is necessary.
It is possible to be tested at GP surgeries and pharmacies however, if you’ve already been diagnosed and your doctor recommends that you take more regular readings, then you may need your own blood pressure monitor.
This is where the process can soon get confusing for people and still doesn’t answer the fundamental question: How often should I take a reading?
Rather unhelpfully, the answer is “it depends”. Somebody with a reading of 160/100 mmHg has a higher risk of a cardiac emergency than somebody with a reading of 140/90 mmHg and it’s best to clarify with your doctor what the sensible frequency of measurement looks like for you.
Here’s an example of what a typical blood pressure monitoring routine could look like, as outlined by Blood Pressure UK:
- For the first week, measure your blood pressure daily three times in the morning, with each reading spaced apart by 1–2 minutes. Record all the readings.
- Keep in mind that the first reading may not be accurate.
- Follow the same process every evening.
- After a week, you’ll be able to calculate your average blood pressure measurements at both times of day and overall..
- You may then be able to reduce the number of measurements to weekly or less. Make sure to speak with your doctor about this.
- If you are given a new medication or your dose of existing medication changes, it is sensible to monitor your blood pressure more often for a period to re-calculate your baseline readings again. .
However, even measuring blood pressure more than once a day following the process above has potential for error.
| GP Practice | Home BPM (Cuffs) | |
|---|---|---|
| FREQUENCY | 1+ times a year | 1+ times a day/week |
| DAY-TIME BP |  | |
| NIGHT-TIME BP |  | |
| MASKED HYPERTENSION | | |
| AUTOMATED MEASUREMENT | | |
Let’s explore the main factors that can lead to flawed measurements.
Avoid these 7 measuring errors that cause false blood pressure readings
The questionable accuracy of blood pressure readings is a valid concern, both for those who have to manage hypertension and formedical practitioners as Dr. Hiremath explains Harvard Health:
“Home blood pressure monitors may be inaccurate in 5% to 15% of patients, depending on the threshold for accuracy used.”
Seven main factors that can lead to false readings are outlined below:
| You were too active before the measurement | It’s recommended to rest in a seated position for five minutes before a blood pressure reading. Many people do not have time to wait that long or forget to do so. |
| Your clothing is in the way | Placing the blood pressure cuff on top of clothing (even a thin shirt or blouse) can lead to a faulty measurement. |
| Your blood pressure cuff is too tight or not tight enough | This is a common problem. If your cuff is too loose, it may cause a lower blood pressure reading than is accurate. On the flip side, a cuff that is too tight may cause a higher blood pressure reading than is accurate. |
| You are distracted | Even engaging in a calm conversation can cause blood pressure to increase. If you live with others, it can be hard to avoid distractions when taking blood pressure readings at home. |
| Your emotional state changes | Being in a stressed or anxious state can cause blood pressure levels to rise. Often, people experience a slight increase in stress when they measure their blood pressure. |
| You feel hot or cold | Your body temperature fluctuates by 0.5-1 °C throughout the day. Blood pressure levels may be higher when you feel cold and lower when you are in a warm environment. |
| You need to urinate | Blood pressure levels can be higher than normal when your bladder is full. |
As you can see, the potential for error is significant. This soon becomes problematic. Here’s why:
Doctors who use their patients’ home readings to prescribe treatments may not have enough data to base their decisions on. As a result, patients may be given a blood pressure medication that is either too strong or not strong enough for what they need.
24/7, hassle-free blood pressure monitoring – is it possible?
Twenty years ago, no, it wasn’t! But technology has since evolved and now those with either diagnosed or suspected hypertension are turning to more robust and practical methods of monitoring their blood pressure.
At Aktiia we realise that improving uptake of continuous blood pressure monitoring to aid medical professionals in diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) requires a device that is:
- Automated – tracks blood pressure automatically rather than having to take manual readings several times per day
- Convenient – is easy to wear, transport, and maintain
- Reliable – provides accurate readings that give peace of mind and allows their doctor to adjust treatment where necessary
| GP Practice | Home BPM (Cuffs) | Aktiia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREQUENCY | 1+ times a year | 1+ times a day/week | 12+ times a day |
| DAY-TIME BP | | | |
| NIGHT-TIME BP | | | |
| MASKED HYPERTENSION | | | |
| AUTOMATED MEASUREMENT | | | |
The Aktiia blood pressure monitor it is a bracelet that is clinically validated to monitor your blood pressure throughout the day and the night.
In particular, 24/7 monitoring allows both patients and their physicians to track blood pressure patterns over time, in fine detail, ensuring that anyprescribed treatment is correct and, more importantly, effective.
As Dr. Jay Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Aktiia, explains:
“Traditional cuffs are cumbersome and only display blood pressure at one point in time. We need a comfortable, easy, practical solution to gather continual blood pressure data from patients, giving a fuller picture and more accurate information, allowing healthcare providers to work with patients over
the long term, which is exactly the purpose and philosophy of Aktiia.”
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions related to a medical condition. The author and publisher are not liable for any harm or damage resulting from the use or misuse of the information in this article.
Sources:
The global burden of hypertension exceeds 1.4 billion people. Should a systolic blood pressure target below 130 become the universal standard?, June 2019 – https://doi.org/101097-HJH-0000000000002021
Hypertension is the epidemic of our time, Aktiia, 9 December 2020 – https://aktiia.com/uk/evidence (accessed October 2024).
How to measure your blood pressure at home, 22 September 2024 –https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/how-to-measure-your-blood-pressure-at-home
Some home blood pressure monitors aren’t accurate, Harvard Health Publishing, 16 September 2019 – https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog-home-blood-pressure-monitors-arent-accurat
Get Serious About Your Cardiovascular Health, Aktiia, 24 December 2020 – https://aktiia.com/uk/insights
