High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a very common health problem. If not treated, it can lead to serious issues like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. To check for high blood pressure, doctors often measure it in their clinics. But a new study suggests that taking blood pressure readings at home might give more accurate results.
This research was done by a team from Kaiser Permanente, a large healthcare organization in the United States. The study took place from 2017 to 2019 at 12 primary care centers in Western Washington. The researchers studied 510 adults who were at high risk of developing high blood pressure.
They divided these participants into three groups. One group had their blood pressure measured during regular doctor visits. The second group used a home blood pressure monitor. The third group used kiosks—the kind found in pharmacies or clinics that automatically take blood pressure.
To find out which method was most accurate, the researchers also used a special device called a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM). This device is worn throughout the day and night and takes blood pressure readings regularly. It is considered the most reliable way to check blood pressure because it shows how it changes during daily activities and sleep.
When the researchers compared all the results, they found something surprising. The home blood pressure readingswere almost the same as the ABPM readings, meaning they were very accurate.
But the clinic readings were often lowerthan the ABPM readings. This means that many people in the clinic group appeared to have normal blood pressure when, in fact, they had high blood pressure. This led to underdiagnosis in more than half of the participants.
On the other hand, kiosk readings were often higher than the ABPM results. This could lead to overdiagnosis, meaning some people might be told they have high blood pressure when they actually don’t.
These findings suggest that relying only on clinic readings may cause doctors to miss a lot of cases of high blood pressure. While clinic readings are convenient, they might not show the full picture. A person’s blood pressure can change depending on stress, time of day, or even how comfortable they feel during the check.
The study also found that many people preferred checking their blood pressure at home. It’s easier, less stressful, and can be done regularly. This supports the idea that home monitoring could be a better option for many people.
Even though health guidelines already recommend using ABPM or home monitors to confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure, many doctors still rely on clinic readings. This study could help change that habit and encourage wider use of home-based monitoring.
Of course, more research is needed to confirm these results and figure out the best way to use home monitors in everyday healthcare. But for now, the message is clear: if you want the most accurate picture of your blood pressure, checking it at home might be your best bet.
This study was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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