Controversy erupted last year when revised guidelines increased thresholds for diagnosing and treating hypertension[1].
Nurses and physicians often argue over differences between arterial line and non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) cuff readings. To make the best use of blood pressure monitoring equipment, it is helpful to have an insight into how the equipment works and the likely sources of error that can affect readings.
Eating a small pot of yoghurt a day can cut the chance of having high blood pressure by a third, a study suggests.
Patients suspected of having high blood pressure are to be given home monitoring devices over fears millions have been misdiagnosed because they were simply nervous in the doctor’s surgery.
Patients could be asked to buy their own blood pressure monitors because only a minority of GP surgeries have home measurement devices, an expert has warned.
Currently, anyone suspected of having high blood pressure is diagnosed by a GP with an inflatable arm cuff. Doctors then call the patient back for additional readings, but these are always taken at their surgery or in hospital.