February is Heart Month: Focus on Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring

Strong scientific evidence shows that self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP), also known as home blood pressure monitoring, plus clinical support helps people with hypertension lower their blood pressure.

SMBP is the regular measurement of blood pressure by the patient outside the clinical setting, either at home or elsewhere. SMBP requires the use of a home blood pressure measurement device by the patient to measure blood pressure at different points in time.

SMBP plus clinical support can improve access to care and quality of care for individuals with hypertension while making blood pressure control more convenient and accessible across the population. Clinical support includes regular one-on-one counseling, web-based or telephonic support tools, and educational classes.

Take a look at a suite of tools to implement self-measured blood pressure monitoring including action guides or public health professionals, action guides for clinicians, action guides to engage patients in SMBP, blood pressure monitoring training videos, lists of validated blood pressure monitoring devices and much more.