Your blood pressure
Why do I need to know my blood pressure?
High blood pressure can lead to serious problems such a heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, problems with your sight and vascular dementia. But having high blood pressure usually has no symptoms so it’s important to get your blood pressure checked.
For more information on blood pressure:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/
How to measure my blood pressure?
If you do not have a diagnosis of hypertension:
• If are over 40 years old, it is important to get your blood pressure checked every 5 years. You can book an appointment with our Assistant Practitioners for this or take your own blood pressure at the pod in the waiting area.
If you do have a diagnosis of hypertension:
• It is important to attend your annual review
• You can get your blood pressure measured at the practice
• You can measure your blood pressure at home
Home blood pressure monitoring
Why do home blood pressure monitoring?
Measuring your blood pressure at home allows you to get an accurate measurement of your blood pressure over time while going about your day-to-day life.
Everybody’s blood pressure go up and down throughout the day and can change with stress or anxiety so taking 7 day readings at home allows your GP practice to look at the trend of your blood pressure, not a one off reading.
How do I measure my blood pressure at home?
Here is a “How to take my blood pressure” video.
- Ensure that you are rested and have done no exercise in the last 30 minutes
- Take your blood pressure whilst sitting in a chair comfortably upright with your arm supported on a table beside you, with both feet on the ground
- Repeat your blood pressure after 1 minute
- Write down the lowest reading and repeat for 7 days
- Send a photo of the completed diary back via the text link or drop back a copy to reception
Click here to download a blood pressure diary to document your blood pressure.
Step by step instructions to take your blood pressure:
https://bihsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/How_to_instructional_leaflet.pdf
List of hypertension society approved machines:
https://bihsoc.org/bp-monitors/for-home-use/