If you suffer with high blood pressure / hypertension or have a condition than recommends regular blood pressure monitoring, we are aware that attending the surgery to have your blood pressure checked can be time consuming. Recent evidence has also shown that measuring blood pressure at home is safe, effective and gives more consistent readings than in a clinical environment. Over the last few years home blood pressure monitors have also become cheaper and more reliable. The British Hypertension Society has a list of machines with prices and which they have validated themselves. We would recommend that you choose one of the following machines that use upper arm readings.

If you have your own machine we would ideally like you to monitor your blood pressure every 6 months and inform the surgery of your results. This can be done in person, by post or on the website. Attached is a simple sheet you can fill in to help record your readings.

To check your blood pressure at home you need to take 2 readings each morning and evening for 5-7 days. Sit down at a table, in a quiet environment with your arm rested in front of you and take 2 readings the second 1-2 minutes after the first. To work out your blood pressure we ignore the first day’s readings and take an average of the rest.

Your Blood Pressure should be less than 140/80. If either of your readings are higher we would ask you to make an appointment to see our hypertension nurse or a doctor.

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Form

Forename:

Surname:

Date of Birth:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please could you check your home blood pressure readings.

To check your blood pressure at home you need to take 2 readings each morning and evening for 5-7 days. Sit down at a table, in a quiet environment with your arm rested in front of you and take 2 readings the second 1-2 minutes after the first.

To work out your blood pressure we ignore the first day’s reading s and take an average of the rest.

 AM1AM2PM1PM2
Day 1Discard today    
Day 2    
Day 3    
Day 4    
Day 5    
Day 6    
Day 7    

Average Systolic:

Average Diastolic

For the of Doctor:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………