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Home Blood Pressure Diary

What is Home Blood Pressure Monitoring?

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM) uses a device similar to those used in your GP Practice and in hospitals. These devices can be easily purchased in pharmacies and online. You don't need to buy an expensive or fancy device but buy a reputable brand.

What is the benefit of Home BP Monitoring?

The benefit of completing Home BP Monitoring is improved accuracy compared with having fewer readings taken in a clinic setting.

Small numbers of readings are not as accurate, and many people have a 'white coat effect' on their blood pressure which can cause it to be higher in clinic settings.

How does Home BP Monitoring work?

When performing Home BP Monitoring you should record your blood pressure twice each day. Ideally in the morning and again in the evening.

For each recording you should take two consecutive readings at least 1 minute apart, while sitting at rest.

You should record Blood Pressure readings for at least 4 days but ideally for 7 days.

When completed your average blood pressure is calculated after omitting readings from day one and using the remaining readings to calculate an average.

What is the Home BP Diary?

The Home Blood Pressure Diary makes it easy for you to record blood pressure readings for Home BP Monitoring (HBPM) according to the stipulations in NICE Guideline 136 - Hypertension in Adults: Diagnosis and Management - published on 28 August 2019.

There are two Home BP Diary options available:

Paper Home BP Diary - download, print and complete the paper diary then submit this to the practice for calculation. We will manually calculate the average and let you know the result and any recommended action.
Home BP Diary App - download the Home BP Diary App for Apple or Android. Record your BP readings in the app and after 7 days submit the readings to the practice directly from the app. The app also has the benefit of automatically calculating the average BP for you and allows us to deal with your BP Diary more quickly when we receive it.