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Home Blood Pressure Test - Why It Is Done
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- Test Overview
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- Why It Is Done
- How To Prepare
- How It Is Done
- How It Feels
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- What Affects the Test
- What To Think About
- Other Places To Get Help
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Home blood pressure monitoring measures your blood pressure at different times and in different places (such as at home and at work) during the day. It may be done to:
- Find out if you have high blood pressure.
- Keep track of how well medicine taken to reduce blood pressure is working.
- Check how lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and exercise, are affecting blood pressure. Home monitoring can help people feel more involved in and more in control of their own health care.
- Watch for changes in blood pressure that may be side effects of medicines.
- Check for problems with high blood pressure during pregnancy or with preeclampsia. For more information, see the topic Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is often used if there is a big difference between the blood pressure readings you get at home and your readings in your doctor's office.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 5, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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