Blood Pressure – Diagnostic Check

We have identified your blood pressure as potentially being elevated. So far we have only checked a few ‘random’ readings. Lots of factors can affect blood pressure such as recent activity, caffeine, alcohol and stress.

Before making a new diagnosis of raised blood pressure (hypertension), and deciding if treatment is needed to lower it we need to carefully check your blood pressure in more detail.

There are two ways we can do this. Please read the information below about your options:

1. 7 days of consecutive home blood pressure readings
   • We will ask you to check your blood pressure twice each day (morning and evening) for 7 consecutive days
   • You can use your own machine, purchase one (we would advise an upper arm monitor from this list), or borrow one from a friend or we can loan you a monitor (please ask reception – note there is a wait for this)
   • For each reading we ask you to sit and relax for 5 minutes, then record 3 readings (one after the other) and record the lowest of these readings
   • We will then calculate an average of the 14 submitted readings
   • Most people find this method more convenient as it avoids an appointment at the surgery
2. A 24 hour home blood pressure monitor
   • This option is slower as we need to refer you for the test and then wait for the appointment, so its mainly an option if you feel you would struggle to check your blood pressure as described in option 1.
   • You will need two appointments at the surgery, one to fit the monitor and one to remove it 24 hours later
   • The monitor will check your blood pressure every hour for 24 hours, including overnight
   • This is a good option if you don’t have your own blood pressure monitor or would worry about using a blood pressure monitor at home
   • See here for more info

Both methods are equally effective at checking blood pressure.

Now please consider which method would suit you best and reply to the SMS you have received via the link at the bottom indicating your preference. We will then be in contact about the next steps.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail book an appointment with the practice team member you have been speaking with.