Step 11: Monitor your blood pressure at home
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A number of home tests are available for checking blood pressure between doctor visits:

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Get a reliable device to use at home -- it will help you control your pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack and other problems.

A doctor may fit a patient with a portable unit that records blood pressure during a full day's activity. This test, known as ambulatory monitoring, is particularly useful for those who experience wide blood pressure swings and those in whom the diagnosis of high blood pressure is uncertain (for example, white coat hypertension).

Blood pressure variations

In general, everyone's blood pressure varies throughout a given day:

 

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Review Date: 6/8/2011
Reviewed By: Steven Kang, MD, Division of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, East Bay Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Oakland, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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