How often should I check my father's BP, who is 65?

Question

Hello doctor,

My father is 65 years old. He has had hypertension for the past 15 years. He is taking antihypertensive medications: Amlodipine 5 mg, Ramistar 10 mg, and a diuretic. His doctor has advised him to maintain his blood pressure around 130/70 mmHg, so we have started monitoring his BP at home.

The issue is that his initial blood pressure reading is always high, around 150/80 to 160/80 mmHg. However, when I measure it continuously three to four times, it decreases to around 130-140/70-80 mmHg. Why does this happen?

Also, his morning BP is usually between 120 and 130 mmHg, but in the evening it rises to around 140/80 mmHg.

Why does this happen?
How often should I check his BP?
Should I measure it more than two times a day?

Please advise.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I have reviewed in detail all the health concerns related to your father. Based on the information you provided, the issue may not necessarily be with his blood pressure itself, but rather with fluctuations or inconsistencies in the readings obtained from the blood pressure monitoring device being used at home.

Sometimes, home BP (blood pressure) machines, especially if they are old, poorly calibrated, or not used correctly, can give unstable or unreliable readings. Factors such as body position, movement, talking during measurement, stress, or taking repeated readings too quickly can also affect the results.

Traditionally, mercury sphygmomanometers have been considered the gold standard for measuring blood pressure because of their high level of accuracy and reliability. Although many clinics now use digital or aneroid devices, mercury apparatuses are still trusted where available. However, they require proper technique and use of a stethoscope, which is why trained professionals usually operate them.

My final suggestion would be to confirm your father’s blood pressure readings using a reliable device, preferably at a nearby clinic or healthcare center where trained staff can measure it accurately, perhaps twice a day for a few days if needed. If you wish to monitor it regularly at home, you may also learn the correct method of BP measurement from a healthcare professional and ensure the machine is validated and calibrated.

Regarding his medications, I have reviewed the medicines you mentioned, and they appear appropriate as long as they are being taken exactly as prescribed by his treating physician. No changes should be made without medical advice.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to ask any further questions if needed. I will be happy to assist you.

Kind regards.