According to a questionnaire survey conducted in 2005 among 1,910 hypertensive patients in communities and factories in Shanghai, only 18.7% of the patients practiced home blood pressure self-testing. This indicates that a majority of hypertensive patients are not fully aware of the importance of self-testing their blood pressure. However, home blood pressure self-testing serves several purposes, such as:

Helps in early diagnosis of hypertension:

Home blood pressure self-testing can contribute to the early detection of hypertension. Currently, in Japan, there are approximately 35 million hypertensive patients, and around 35 million electronic blood pressure monitors are distributed among households. Many patients discover their elevated blood pressure through self-testing and then seek medical confirmation. As a result, the awareness rate of hypertension in Japan exceeds 60%. However, in China, it is only 30.2%, meaning that two-thirds of patients are unaware that they have hypertension. Many patients only become aware of their hypertension after experiencing a stroke, kidney failure, or heart disease. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that individuals above the age of 35 have their blood pressure tested annually, especially those with a family history of hypertension (parents with hypertension), to detect hypertension early.

Helps identify "masked hypertension":

In reality, many cases of hypertension go undiagnosed. Since the blood pressure of early-stage hypertensive patients tends to fluctuate significantly, a single blood pressure measurement taken at a hospital may fall within the "normal" range. However, by conducting 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or performing multiple self-tests, it is possible to discover that blood pressure is significantly elevated at various other time points. This phenomenon is known as "masked hypertension." Failing to detect and treat hypertension early can result in significant damage to target organs.

Detects "white coat hypertension":

"White coat hypertension" accounts for over 10% of diagnosed hypertensive individuals, particularly among newly diagnosed patients. It refers to cases where blood pressure measured in a clinic is significantly higher than self-measured blood pressure (usually ≥20/10 mmHg higher). Studies have shown that clinic blood pressure measurements do not correlate with the "gold standard" of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. However, self-measured blood pressure and the results obtained from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring are correlated. This indicates that self-testing blood pressure is more accurate than clinic measurements in determining whether a person has white coat hypertension, which may not require treatment.

Enhances treatment adherence in hypertensive patients:

A study divided 250 newly diagnosed or uncontrolled hypertensive patients into two groups. One group received home blood pressure self-testing intervention with an electronic blood pressure monitor, while the other group received standard treatment without self-testing. After a 6-month follow-up, it was found that the self-testing group exhibited significantly higher overall treatment adherence, medication adherence rates, and blood pressure reduction levels compared to the group without self-testing. This indicates that patients who monitor their own blood pressure have improved treatment adherence, which helps them collaborate with doctors and become their "best doctors."

Aids in identifying so-called "well-controlled" hypertensive patients:

Hypertensive patients usually visit the hospital once a month for consultations, blood pressure measurements, and medication prescriptions. If their blood pressure appears "normal" in the morning after taking medication, they may not be aware that it can rise in the afternoon or evening. Self-testing blood pressure allows for multiple measurements, helping to identify abnormal hypertension that may go unnoticed in clinic visits. This, in turn, assists doctors in prescribing medication more effectively.

Facilitates the detection and control of "morning hypertension":

Long-term clinical observations have revealed a certain regularity in cardiovascular events. Myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac arrest, and stroke are more likely to occur within a few hours after waking up in the morning. If the difference between morning systolic blood pressure and the lowest nighttime reading is ≥50 mmHg, or if the average morning systolic pressure is ≥170 mmHg and average blood pressure is ≥150/90 mmHg, it is referred to as "morning surge" or morning hypertension. The Birmingham study found that the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in the morning is at least 70% higher compared to other times. It is recommended to self-test blood pressure in the morning to identify elevated blood pressure and adjust medication timing and dosage accordingly. However, in a minority of cases, there may be an "evening surge" phenomenon where blood pressure is not high in the morning but rapidly rises in the afternoon or evening. This condition is often discovered by patients through self-testing blood pressure and reported to their doctors.

Helps assess the effectiveness of "long-acting antihypertensive medications":

The efficacy of a blood pressure-lowering medication in maintaining its effect for 24 hours can be measured by the trough-to-peak (T/P) ratio obtained from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Some antihypertensive drugs are recognized as long-acting, but due to individual differences in drug metabolism, a small proportion of individuals may experience a loss of effect within 24 hours. For example, taking a single dose of amlodipine (Norvasc) or losartan (Cozaar) in the morning may lead to blood pressure rebound in the afternoon. In such cases, it may be necessary to switch to twice-daily dosing or consider other intermediate-acting antihypertensive medications. Multiple 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is not required to address this issue; rather, patients can monitor their blood pressure multiple times. By measuring blood pressure in the morning, patients can assess the trough blood pressure after 24 hours of taking the long-acting medication, while measuring blood pressure multiple times between 3 to 8 hours after taking the medication can provide insight into its effectiveness and the extent of blood pressure reduction (peak effect). Measuring blood pressure between 4 to 8 p.m. can help evaluate the degree of blood pressure control 10 to 14 hours after taking the morning medication.

Pangao Upper Arm Digital Blood Pressure Monitor