With 72 million Americans diagnosed with high blood pressure --- and a whole generation of baby boomers entering their hypertension-prone years --- it makes sense that inexpensive monitoring devices be readily available for home use.
The American Heart Association and physician groups that routinely treat hypertensive patients have endorsed home monitoring devices, which have come down to about $50 to $100. Without such devices, many patients can't track whether medication or lifestyle changes are working.
Home monitoring will allow doctors to fine-tune medications for their hypertensive patients in much the same way diabetics adjust their insulin levels by regularly monitoring their blood sugar levels with home testing devices. Many of the blood pressure devices keep an electronic record of a patient's readings, which can be shared with physicians.
Uncontrolled hypertension causes heart attacks and strokes and often has no symptoms. It occurs when blood pulses too forcefully through vessels, damaging the heart, kidneys and other organs. It is more common as people age and is a leading cause of death in the South, especially among African-American men.
Home monitoring devices may not only save lives, they can help control the high cost of American medicine. The new technology offers patients the ability to take control of their treatment and work with their physicians to stay healthy.
--- Mike King, for the editorial board (mking@ajc.com)
Copyright 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution