What do you get for that person on your gift list who has everything? Well, if one of the things they have is high blood pressure, consider a home blood pressure monitor. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are all sorts of good reasons to have one:
∙ It can help make an early diagnosis of high blood pressure.
∙ It can help track your treatment.
∙ It can give you a stronger sense of control and responsibility for your own health.
∙ It can check to see if your blood pressure is different when you are not in the sometimes stressful doctor’s office environment.
How do you choose the right type of monitor for your thoughtful gift? The American Heart Associate recommends an automatic, cuff-style, bicep (upper arm) monitor. Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because they yield less reliable readings. You can also ask your healthcare professional for advice in selecting and using a device at home. Also, have the device you select checked by your provider when it is new and once a year thereafter to make sure the readings are accurate.
--Sarah Hagerty
