Do Cardiologists recommend home blood pressure Monitoring

Today’s discussion of ” Do Cardiologists recommend Home Blood Pressure Monitoring ?” is brought to you by Omron Healthcare.

I recently interviewed renowned Dr. James Rippe, M.D., Cardiologist, Founder and Director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute. He commented on patients taking their blood pressure at home and the usefulness for the medical community of such data. His answers address the question ” Do Cardiologists recommend Home Blood Pressure Monitoring ? ”

This is my fourth blog post about the Omron EVOLV. The Omron EVOLV is a portable, wireless upper-arm blood pressure monitor that is clinically validated for accuracy and has received FDA clearance. With no tubes, wires or tabletop unit, the new sleek, one-piece EVOLV blood pressure monitor easily fits on the upper arm and clearly displays a blood pressure reading on the face of the device with a press of a button.

In my first article, I took the Going for Zero Pledge, where I pledged to exercise, eat smart, kick the habits, stifle the stress and monitor my blood pressure regularly. In my second blog post, I explored the question “Where can I find an easy to use at-home blood pressure monitor?” For my third article, I explored the Top 5 Things to Know about Home Blood Pressure Monitoring. I also posted a video where I demonstrated how to use the Omron Home Blood Pressure monitor.

Do Cardiologists recommend Home Blood Pressure Monitoring ?

Responses attributed to:
Dr. James Rippe, M.D.
Renowned Cardiologist and Founder and Director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute
on 7.2.18

1) As a healthcare provider, what benefit can you realize in patient care from the Omron Evolv home blood pressure monitor and the Omron App?

Knowing your numbers allows you to get a better sense of the actual state of your heart health.
Typically, most people only get their blood pressure checked during their annual doctor’s visit,
but this only provides a snapshot in time of your blood pressure. Monitoring regularly with a
device like the Omron Evolv lets you find whether you usually skew higher or lower on a day-to-
day basis. The Omron Evolv allows you to store, track and share your heart health data via the
Omron Connect App, which helps patients have ongoing conversations with their doctors and
provides a convenient way for patients to show their doctor the information collected from the
app.

2) As a healthcare provider, how could your patients best utilize the Omron Evolv to aid you in their healthcare?

If you’re in the hypertensive range, you should first consult your physician to determine a plan
that works best for you. The early stages of hypertension can often be managed with simple
lifestyle tweaks, which is where home blood pressure monitoring comes in.
First, know your numbers. If you aren’t regularly monitoring your blood pressure at home,
during different times of the day, you won’t be able to track your heart health trends
accurately. Do you tend to be on the high side at night, or in the mornings? Are your average
readings generally normal, with one or two spikes due to stressful events? Having more
accurate data is the best way to help your physician know the total picture – leading to better
treatment plans and better outcomes. Consider purchasing a home blood pressure monitor so
you can keep track of your numbers at all times. Omron home blood pressure monitors are the
number 1 doctor and pharmacist recommended brand 1 .

Secondly, speak to your doctor regularly. Having an ongoing dialogue with your physician
about your heart health and blood pressure is really the best way to know if you are having a
good handle on your condition, or if your treatment plan needs to be tweaked. Share your
blood pressure trends with him/her regularly and let your doctor know if there have been
major changes in your life or health that could affect your condition. There are now heart
health apps available that help you store, track and share your heart health data with ease,
such as the Omron Connect App – it links with all connected Omron blood pressure monitors,
so you can sync your readings, track them over time and share them electronically with your
physicians.

3) Can a patient actually FEEL their blood pressure rising? Would that be a good time to take their blood pressure?

It is uncommon for a patient to feel their blood pressure rising. Most people who have high
blood pressure do not have symptoms, which is why it is often referred to as the “silent killer.”
Sometimes, the first sign that someone has high blood pressure is a major cardiac event like a
heart attack or stroke. That is why it is important to monitor blood pressure every day to track
when your blood pressure is too high and it helps you stay ahead of any potential issues, so you
can work with your physician to be more proactive about your care and lifestyle habits.

4) Blood pressure rises with stress, caffeine and other indicators correct? So if that is true, is it valid to take your home blood pressure reading when you are experiencing these situations? What blood pressure reading are the most valid for your purposes?

Your blood pressure can spike when you’re feeling stressed, after you’ve had caffeine, or if
there’s something new happening in your life. If you’re noticing that your blood pressure is
typically in the normal range, but with a few spikes here and there, try keeping a log of these
activities before each reading.

Measure your blood pressure in the morning before eating or taking any medications, and the
second in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your
results are accurate. These readings are valid because they help determine the lifestyle habits
that affect your blood pressure most, but they are not a full picture of your heart health. Your
doctor might recommend taking your blood pressure at the same times each day.

If higher blood pressure readings are consistently appearing in your monitoring, consult your
physician to see if there are steps you can take to lower your blood pressure.

5) If a patient takes their blood pressure every day and there are occasional elevated or hypertensive zone meanings, is that a concern from your perspective?

If you’re noticing that your blood pressure is typically in the normal range, but with a few spikes
here and there, try keeping a log of your activities before each reading. This can help you
pinpoint what may be causing your blood pressure to increase, so you can be proactive about
keeping it normal. If higher blood pressure readings are consistently appearing in your
monitoring, consult your physician to see if there are steps you can take to lower your blood
pressure.

6) If I maintain a low blood pressure, does that mean I will not experience heart attacks or strokes?

Low blood pressure is often associated with being of good health and a lower risk of heart
attacks, but there are still risks associated with hypotension – when your blood pressure is
consistently lower than normal (below 90/60). Continuous low blood pressure or a sudden drop
in blood pressure can lead to severe health problems. In serious cases, low blood pressure can
decrease oxygen supply and nutrients to the brain, which can be life-threatening, but normal
cases may not have any symptoms or require treatment at all. It’s important to discuss your
blood pressure with your doctor to decide what’s right for your needs. 3

The best blood pressure range to aim to be in is the Normal range, as set out by the hypertension guidelines by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.

Source: AHA

7) Finally, what do you see as the future for Home Blood Pressure testing and its role in a patient’s health?

Heart disease claims millions of lives. Heart attack and stroke are often preventable if people
are aware of the risk. One of the most important ways to prevent hypertension is to monitor
your blood pressure – if you know your numbers, you’ll know if you need to make these
lifestyle changes that can positively impact your blood pressure, and thus lower your risk of
heart attack and stroke. This is especially important if you have a genetic predisposition to
hypertension, or a family history of the condition, to know your numbers and make better
health decisions to reduce your risk.

If you don’t know your numbers, you won’t know if you are at a higher risk of a serious cardiac event like a heart attack or stroke. Purchasing a blood pressure monitor for yourself to use at
home will be one of the best investments you’ll ever make for your own heart health.
Home blood pressure monitoring is becoming easier, more convenient and more portable than
ever before. Patients no longer need to go to the doctor’s office to check on the state of their
health – they can do so easily in the comfort of their own homes. Instead of only periodically
checking their health states, they can now be able to regularly monitor their heart health and
take action if needed. This puts the power in the hands of consumers to understand and take
control of their heart health.