Give patients kits to test own blood pressure, charity urges

ALL patients with high blood pressure should be given a personal monitoring kit to take home, a charity has said.

Blood Pressure UK said not enough people with the condition know if it is under control, and that a wider use of home kits would cut down on unnecessary GP visits.

The NHS already provides glucose monitors on prescription to patients living with diabetes to measure their blood sugar. The charity says a similar approach to blood pressure would help patients keep on top of the life-threatening disease.

A poll of more than 2,000 people by the organisation showed that of the 42 per cent of people surveyed who had high blood pressure, 48 per cent preferred not to say if it was under control.

Of the third – 35 per cent – of people who own a blood pressure monitor, only 17 per cent use it once a month.

Of those who do not own a home blood pressure monitor, 42 per cent said they would rather a healthcare professional checked it, despite home monitoring being recommended by the National Institute of Health and

Care Excellence.

With unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet contributing to more young people in their 30s, 40s and 50s being diagnosed with hypertension, around one in three people in the UK are now living with high blood pressure – with an estimated 6.5 million people living with the condition undiagnosed.

Professor Graham Macgregor, chairman

‘Having your blood pressure checked is an important step to reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack or heart failure’

of Blood Pressure UK, said: “As an individual, having your blood pressure checked is the most important step that you can take to reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack or heart failure.

“This is why we are calling for home monitors to be available to those most in need on prescription, especially at a time when appointments with GPS and nurses are restricted, which may prolong getting your blood pressure checked.”