Study: 24-Hour Blood Pressure Device Best

Wearing a device that takes blood pressure automatically, day and night, is the most cost-effective way to find out if you need treatment, a study finds. The new study was done in the United Kingdom. Researchers compared costs and results of three ways of diagnosing high blood pressure. Some people were asked to wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. This device is worn for 24 hours. It is usually set to take blood pressure readings every half hour during the day and every hour at night. Some people were asked to use a regular blood pressure device to check their own blood pressure several times at home. Others were checked only in a medical clinic. Researchers found that using the ambulatory blood pressure monitor saved money. It helped to figure out who really needed treatment. Some people have “white coat hypertension” — high readings only in the doctor’s office.