What is the best time to monitor blood pressure at home? The best time to monitor at home is an excellent question; due to much research, we now know the answer.
Why do we want to know the best time to measure? As you know, blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, going above and below your normal level at various times. The damage to your blood vessles happens when your blood pressure is higher than normal.
When your blood pressure is high you are more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness at any time. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly how long it will take for these things to happen. Studies have shown that the damage may take time to happen, but there is no prediction for poor outcomes. However, if you keep your blood pressure at the normal level while you are at rest, you can reduce your risk of problems.
Monitoring Blood Pressure
Measure your blood pressure in the mornings because you need to know if it is elevated. Strokes are more common in the mornings; so, it is essential to take your blood pressure in the mornings. If your blood pressure is high in the mornings, you might be able to find out why. Sleep apnea can cause elevated morning blood pressures. Sleep apnea can be treated to prevent serious issues and lower your blood pressure.
However, I found one doctor who has offered his expert opinion about the subject that is contrary to the hypertension guidelines. His name is Dr. Joe, and he so eloquently explained the role of cortisol in increasing blood pressure.
Dr. Joe says the best time to take your blood pressure is between 7:30 pm and 12 midnight to avoid being influenced by cortisol. Cortisol is released upon awakening in the mornings and late evenings, which increases blood pressure. His idea is that taking your blood pressure at home during the evenings instead of in the mornings will give you better blood pressure.
Common Blood Pressure Measurement
The main reason most people go to the doctor is to get their blood pressure measured. For years we have known the limitation of blood pressure monitored in the doctor’s office. Yet, most of the hypertension research, blood pressure diagnoses, and hypertension management has been based on office blood pressure.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is done when your doctor is unsure if your elevated blood pressure is hypertension. Your doctor places the monitor on your arm in the doctor’s office; it will measure your blood pressure every 15-20 minutes for 24 hours. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is the best type of monitoring to diagnose and manage high blood pressure.
Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
Surprisingly, home blood pressure monitoring is as accurate as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; further, home monitoring has the same predictive value as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. In other words, home blood pressure measurements are better than the blood pressure measurements your doctor gets in the office.
There are three caveats; the home blood pressure monitoring is done with a validated monitor, right size arm cuff, and correct technique.
Dr. Joe recognized that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is the best blood pressure monitoring at home. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is not widely available, but home blood pressure monitoring has a similar predictive value. Home blood pressure monitoring is more widely available and more affordable.
Uncertainty and Office Monitoring
Dr. Guputa spoke about the best time to take your blood pressure in the video below. Uncertainty can play an important role when you are trying to be diagnosed. BP medication and treat the number while identifying the underlying problem.
One value can define everyone because, based on science, high blood pressure is not individualized based on individual characteristics. It does make sense to use arbitral numbers to determine high blood pressure. But he does acknowledge that home blood pressure monitoring is the best blood pressure secondary to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
Dr. Guputa recommends his protocol to determine if you have high blood pressure and gives you factors that contribute to your high bp. He does not believe that medication alters the personal risk, is your number causing you to be at risk for having a stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease.
What Damage Can Occur?
Hypertension is the silent killer because there are no symptoms of the damage to your blood vessles. Damage to the small blood vessles over time increases the level of low-level damage to your eyes (hemorrhage) in your eyes and the vessles in your kidneys.
Testing your urine for protein is essential to determine the extent of kidney damage. High blood pressure causes your heart muscle to get thicker, causing heart damage that can lead to a heart attack. Blood pressure needs to be aggressively reduced even at 130/30 or more.
Best Time to Measure Blood Pressure at Home
Unlike Dr. Joe’s recommendations, the best time to monitor your blood pressure is various times during the mornings and evenings. If you measure only at night from 7:30 pm -12 midnight, you will be missing critical information. You might be capable of determining the source of your high blood pressure if you monitor at the right times.
Your blood pressure should dip at night, and it may be slightly higher in the mornings. Nevertheless, your morning blood pressure still should be controlled in the mornings and in the evenings for safety.
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