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Traditional office measurements provide an incomplete picture of a patient’s true blood pressure (BP). In 2005, a Gallup poll showed that 55% of hypertensive patients monitor their own BP; however, home BP monitoring (HBPM) has not been incorporated into standard clinical practice. The American Heart Association, the American Society of Hypertension, and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association recently endorsed the use of HBPM and issued a “call to action” for incorporating it into routine clinical practice. Highlights of the statement are as follows:
The most reliable devices have been validated by a manufacturer-sponsored educational trust and measure brachial artery BP with the cuff on the upper arm. The best devices also have el…