“Self-measurement is useful in all hypertensive patients and as a screening tool” explains Dr Postel-Vinay. specialist in arterial hypertension at the European hospital George Pompidou (Paris), he created in 1999 the site www.automesure.com to support Internet patients. Practical sheets and demonstration videos explain in detail how to choose your self-measuring device and take your blood pressure correctly.
Not all blood pressure monitors are created equal
“The European CE standard has now incorporated measurement reliability parameters into its specifications. But that does not mean that all devices are equal”, underlines the specialist. . He recommends in particular to prefer a device taking the measurement on the arm rather than on the wrist or the fingertip, to gain reliability and precision.
In France, nearly one in three hypertensive people bought their own self-measurement device. But Health Insurance does not reimburse them. “There are 12 million French people whose anti-hypertensive drugs are reimbursed, it would be a huge cost for Social Security. All the more so as a hypertensive whose disease is at Balanced only needs to take your blood pressure one week every 6 months “, underlines Dr Postel-Vinay.
The general practitioner can lend you one
The Social Security has therefore chosen another strategy. Since November 2013, it has provided free general practitioners who so wish with a self-measuring device to lend to their patients. “It is very important that doctors teach patients how to use the device and interpret the results,” insists the specialist. To prevent a person from buying their device on the Internet and starting to take their blood pressure all the time, causing themselves unnecessary stress.
Read also:
– Infographic: what you need to know about blood pressure
– Hypertension: the best foods to lower it naturally
– Hypertension: is the sun the best treatment?
