{"id":12445,"date":"2021-03-15T11:45:27","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T16:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=12445"},"modified":"2022-04-18T11:14:13","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T16:14:13","slug":"tips-for-monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/tips-for-monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for monitoring your blood pressure at home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Checking your blood pressure at home doesn\u2019t replace going to the doctor. But because people are generally more relaxed at home than at the doctor\u2019s office, their blood pressure may be lower at home.<\/p>\n

Monitoring your blood pressure at home \u2013 especially if you\u2019ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure \u2013 \u00a0gives you an opportunity to stay on top of your condition and know when it may be time to call your doctor, according to Melinda Cooling, APRN,<\/a> who is vice president of Advanced Practice and chief clinician executive for OSF OnCall.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for both your primary care provider and yourself to get a look at how your blood pressure changes throughout the day and what your trends are,\u201d Melinda said. \u201cTrends in your blood pressure are the most critical decision point for a health care provider.\u201d<\/p>\n

While monitoring your blood pressure at home helps in tracking your treatment, it also encourages you to have better control over your condition.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can gain a stronger sense of responsibility for your health by monitoring your blood pressure at home,\u201d Melinda said. \u201cIt could motivate you to properly take any medication you\u2019ve been prescribed, become more physically active<\/a> and follow a healthier diet.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

Types of monitors<\/h2>\n

There are two types of blood pressure monitors you can consider for use at home. They are:<\/p>\n