Can self-monitoring help in blood pressure management?

A special smartphone-based program may prove to be a useful tool in controlling and even lowering one's own blood pressure, according to new Swedish research.

Results published in a doctoral thesis by Ulrika Bengtsson, PhD student at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, showed that by using an interactive system on their smartphone, patients with high blood pressure could track their lifestyle habits and blood pressure readings to better understand their condition, and then use this information to manage their lifestyle accordingly, and lower blood pressure.

In the study a group of 50 participants, all with high blood pressure, used the interactive system on their mobile phone over a period of eight weeks to record their blood pressure, pulse, medication intake, lifestyle, state of well being, and symptoms. Participants also received information from the system, including questions, encouraging messages, and reminders. All of the information was available for both patients and their healthcare team to enable them to monitor blood pressure values at specific times or over a period of time, and also to check blood pressure readings against specific lifestyle factors.

Over the eight weeks results showed "statistical and clinical significance in lowering blood pressure," with the reduction happening in the first few weeks before stabilising. Systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts, was lowered on average by 7 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting and refilling with blood between heart heartbeats, fell on average by 4.9 mmHg.

Bengtsson suggests that in addition to daily medication, this is thanks to the interactive system providing patients with a better understanding of their lifestyle and how it affects blood pressure, enabling them to relate readings to a specific event such as period of stress or physical activity.

Patients also became more actively involved in follow-up discussions with the health team about how to use the readings to manage blood pressure in their daily life. The findings could also provide insight for managing other conditions such as cardio-vascular diseases that develop as a result of high blood pressure. Bengtsson does however point out the need for further research using a larger group of participants to study the long-term effects.

The study published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.

Managing health with your mobile

Bengtsson's thesis follows a wave of product launches to enable patients with high blood pressure to monitor their blood readings at home. The Blip blood pressure monitor enables users to read and record their blood pressure at home using wifi, set reminders and goals, and receive insights and information based on their readings. You can forward the information on to your doctor, and as information can be tracked from the web, it can also be shared with family members.

Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor is a medically approved device which measures blood pressure at home and sends the readings to the Withings Health Mate app. Slip on and switch on the arm cuff to take your blood pressure reading and the Health Mate app will automatically launch, storing all of your blood pressure readings in a simple chart and providing you with colour feedback. Data can also be sent directly to your doctor for further feedback.

According to statistics from the American Heart Association around one in every three adults has high blood pressure. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and congestive heart failure, yet around 81.5% of Americans are unaware they have high blood pressure. Blood pressure can be checked by your healthcare provider, with doctors prescribing lifestyle improvements and possibly medication to help manage and reduce blood pressure.