Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Cardiovascular medicine
Management of elevated BP: ambulatory versus office monitoring
Recent articles on:
Hypertension
Hypertension
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Heart diseases--prevention
Heart diseases--prevention
Abstract
The management of elevated blood pressure is moving away from a doctor taking a single measurement during a consultation and managing hypertension based solely on this measurement. The increasing availability of oscillometric and ambulatory blood pressure machines and the promotion of an absolute risk-based approach will revolutionise how elevated blood pressure is measured and managed.
Key Points
- Mercury sphygmomanometers are being phased out.
- New oscillometric devices allow blood pressure to be more accurately measured within and outside the clinic.
- Elevated blood pressure is best diagnosed and managed according to ambulatory measures.
- When ambulatory oscillometric devices are unavailable, impractical or unaffordable, home and clinic measures using oscillometric devices or older calibrated devices following strict measurement protocols are valid alternatives.
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