Ambulatory Blood Pressure to Effectively Measure Elderly Blood Pressure

Aging is recognized as one variable factor of increase the risk of blood pressure. Generally, as people get older, the blood pressure rises as well. As a matter of fact, 80 % of people over 65 years old have elderly blood pressure. The high blood pressure in elderly is related to hormone changes, alterations in the wall of blood vessels and arteries wall, and the drop off of heart operation efficiency. In this case, it is so important for seniors to check and monitor their blood level regularly.

The most popular way of measuring blood pressure is going to doctor’s office and have him to check for you, but most of the time it is not accurate. The reasons why such blood pressure measurement is not accurate is due to “white coat hypertension” syndrome. This is name for the fact that many people have increased blood pressure due to the stress of being at the doctor’s white coat in doctor’s office. During routine blood pressure measurement in health care location, their blood pressure is recorded as being much higher than it really is normally.

So how to avoid this “white coat hypertension” and get the more precise blood pressure readings? Monitoring the blood pressure through the day can help to determine if elevated blood pressure levels are a side– effect of the “white coat hypertension” or are true hypertension.

Ambulatory blood pressure, also known as automated sphygmomanometry, is one way to measure blood pressure more effective. The measurements taken throughout the day and night while an individual is engaged in normal daily activities. Ambulatory monitoring makes it possible to record blood pressure throughout a 24 hour period without disturbing patients normal activities and without the necessity to schedule doctor’s appointment. Initially, ambulatory blood pressure is reserved for research purposes, but now it has gradually entered the standard medical practice and has now become a widely used clinical tool both for diagnostic purposes and for assessment of treatment efficacy.

Keyterms: Automated sphygmomanometry — The automatic taking of blood pressure readings at regular intervals.

Ambulatory blood pressure measurement is done using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. The monitor consists of a blood pressure cuff, just like the ones normally used to take blood pressure readings in the doctor’s office. This cuff is then attached to a small, battery-powered machine that is normally worn clipped to a belt. The machine sends information to the cuff about when to inflate and deflate, takes the blood pressure readings, and records it so that the doctor can look at the information later.

The ambulatory blood pressure measurement device records the individual’s blood pressure at regular intervals usually every 15 or 30 minutes as decided by the doctor. Some machines have the option for the individual to cause extra readings to be taken between intervals as desired. The monitor stays on the individual all day, and throughout the night. After the 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure period of monitoring is complete the individual returns to the doctor’s office where the data is taken from the monitoring device and analyzed.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or automated sphygmomanometry is also used frequently to measure elderly blood pressure or in diagnosing seniors with hypertension. Because many seniors experience significant adverse side–effects to blood pressure in elderly due to medications, using a series of blood pressure measurements throughout the day to make the most accurate diagnosis possible can help eliminate the unnecessary treatment of hypertension.

There are no special precautions necessary for having ambulatory blood pressure in elderly. The device must be worn for the whole 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure period, so certain activities such as bathing or swimming should not be planned for that time period.

Measurement of normal blood pressure levels differ between people and during different times of the day. Individual with healthy condition have a significant decrease in blood pressure during the late hours of sleep. Absence of this dip is a sign of some significant health problems. Ambulatory blood pressure reading are often averaged over the waking hours or over the whole day. Blood pressure measurement results are:

— Normal (normotensive): less than 120/80.
— Pre-hypertensive: 120/80 to 139/89.
— Stage 1 hypertensive: 140/90 to 159/99.
— Stage 2 hypertensive: greater than 160/100.

The doctor makes the decision based on doctor experience that ambulatory blood pressure readings is appropriate for the patient. The doctor or nurse explains the use of the device to the individual, including how often the device will take blood pressure reading, what they will feel like, and how to manually deflate the blood pressure cuff. The doctor or nurse will also discuss with the patient what types of information should be recorded in the diary. The doctor or a specially trained office staff member uses a computer to interpret and summarize the data. The doctor then uses this data to determine which, if any, further action is indicated.