24 Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring

ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood pressure is a measure of the amount of work that your heart must do to keep your blood moving around your body. A normal blood pressure reading is around 120/80mmHg. The top number, 120 (called systolic pressure) is a measure of your blood pressure at its highest, as your heart muscles push the blood out of the heart and around the body. When your heart relaxes between beats blood moves back into your heart and the pressure at this point is the bottom number, 80 (called diastolic pressure).

Half of people with high blood pressure are not aware that they have the condition as it doesn't always have symptoms. If left untreated it may lead to conditions like heart disease or stroke.

It is not unusual for people to have a high blood pressure reading at the doctor or pharmacy and to have a normal reading at home where they are typically more relaxed. Measuring your blood pressure at regular intervals over a 24 hour period gives a much clearer picture of how your blood pressure changes throughout the day. It is a more accurate reading of your blood pressure instead of a single snapshot at a particular point in the day.

REASONS TO MONITOR BLOOD PRESSURE

The main reasons why you may benefit from 24-hour blood pressure monitoring include:

• You have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and your doctor, or yourself, want to check how lifestyle changes or medication are helping to lower your blood pressure
• When you are at the doctors surgery or pharmacy getting your blood pressure measured you get an abnormally high reading as you are nervous or stressed
• Your doctor may want to monitor and check your blood pressure at night as this gives a higher risk for heart disease
• You have conditions that affect your heart, such as high cholesterol or diabetes

OUR MONITORING SERVICE

Our service involves making an appointment in the pharmacy to have the monitoring device fitted (which includes a cuff around your arm) that will measure your blood pressure for 24 hours. The next day you will need to return to the pharmacy to have the device removed. You will then be given the results and provided with the appropriate advice.

If you would like to make an appointment for this service please complete the form below and a staff member will contact you to arrange it.