Help Your Patient Get Accurate Blood Pressure Readings

You'll see more emphasis on proper technique for measuring blood pressure and home BP monitoring for hypertension.

BP measurement errors are common. And now that the new hypertension guidelines recommend a BP goal of less than 130/80 mmHg, proper measurement is critical to minimize overtreatment.

Help patients check BP properly at your pharmacy. If patients report high readings at your BP kiosk, ask about factors that can alter BP...such as a full bladder, recent nicotine use, or talking during measurement. These can transiently bump systolic BP by up to 25 mmHg.