Description of the test

Blood pressure monitoring measures your blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measure of the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries, and it is monitored regularly by your doctor to ensure that it remains within an acceptable range. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to many complications including stroke, kidney failure, and heart disease.

How often should this test be performed?

In healthy people, blood pressure is usually checked when a physical exam is done. You should have your blood pressure monitored at least every two years or as recommended by your physician. If your blood pressure is high, your doctor may ask you return to the office more frequently either to determine if treatment (including medication) is required to reduce your blood pressure or to monitor the effectiveness of treatment already in place.

Why is this test performed?

Blood pressure can go up and down during the course of a day, however, if blood pressure remains consistently high, it is called hypertension. Most people have no symptoms with high blood pressure, unless the blood pressure is very high, so regular blood pressure monitoring is needed to identify people with hypertension.

Long-term hypertension can cause complications such as stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. Once high blood pressure is detected, many steps can be taken to control blood pressure and prevent such complications from occurring. This includes exercise, a change in diet, and medications. Regular blood pressure monitoring will assess the effectiveness of treatments so they can be adjusted as needed.

Are there any risks and precautions I should know about?

The blood pressure cuff may feel tight around your arm and may be temporarily uncomfortable, but there are no risks of complications or side effects with monitoring blood pressure.