How do i submit my results?
You can submit your results online by clicking on the purple Consult Online banner on the Beacon home page or by following this link. From here, please select the Health Review option followed by Blood Pressure Review .
Alternatively, you can print and complete this form and hand this into reception at any of our sites. Please note that in the interests of clear record-keeping we can only accept blood pressures if they are submitted online, on the linked form, or on a form we have provided to you. If you have recorded your blood pressures on another medium then our reception team can help you submit your figures online or can give you a paper form to copy your results onto.
Why have I been invited to monitor my blood pressure?
We will automatically invite you to provide home average blood pressure readings if you are known to have a high blood pressure (hypertension) or certain other medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. Many medications also require up-to-date blood pressures so you will be invited to have your blood pressure taken alongside any other tests as part of a routine medication review.
We will also send follow-up requests for home average blood pressure measurements if your most recent blood pressure result is above target. This includes measurements taken in person by Beacon clinical staff; from other healthcare professionals such as hospital staff, pharmacies, or the emergency services; or if you use the patient pod available at our Plympton Mudge Way and Ivybridge Station Road surgeries. It is important that we check if your blood pressure has stayed consistently high or returned to normal afterwards, so you may get these invites despite having already measured and submitted your home average blood pressure within the last few weeks.
What should my blood pressure be and why is managing it important?
Unless your doctor advises differently, normal or healthy blood pressure readings measured at home should usually be less than::
- 135/85 mmHg if you are under 80 years old
- 145/85 mmHg if you are over 80 years old
Do not be alarmed if you get an unexpected high reading – A one-off reading may be nothing to worry about. Measure your blood pressure again roughly thirty minutes later. If you record two or more BP readings in a row over 180/110 mmHg (a top reading of over 180 or a bottom reading of more than 110) at least thirty minutes apart, you should contact your GP practice the same day. If your GP practice is closed ring 111 for advice.
Do not check your blood pressure too often or you may become worried or stressed about small changes in your reading – This can raise your blood pressure temporarily. Worrying about your blood pressure reading may make it higher.
If your blood pressure is consistently high then this can lead to issues such as a heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and problems with your sight. You can find out more about high blood pressure at the British Heart Foundation.
When to measure your own blood pressure?
The British Heart Foundation has created a video guide demonstrating how you can measure your own blood pressure that you can view here. We recommend that you purchase your own blood pressure monitor so you can keep track of your blood pressure whenever needed. We also have a small supply of blood pressure monitors that we can loan – please speak to the reception team at our sites for more information. Additionally, some pharmacies can loan a blood pressure monitor that continuously measures your blood pressure over 24 hours (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring) and send us the results for you. Please visit the NHS website to find participating pharmacies.
Before you take a reading using a home BP monitor:
- Many things can make your blood pressure rise for a short time. Make sure you do not need to use the toilet, and that you have not just eaten a big meal. Do not measure your blood pressure within 30 minutes of drinking caffeine or smoking, or immediately after exercise or drinking alcohol.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes like a short-sleeved t-shirt so that you can push your sleeve up comfortably.
- Always use the same arm for readings, as each arm will give you a slightly different reading. If possible, use the arm that your doctor or nurse uses when measuring your blood pressure.
- Before you take your readings, rest for a few minutes. You should be sitting down in a quiet place, preferably at a desk or table, with your arm resting, palm up, on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor.
- Make sure your arm is supported and that the cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart. You may need to support your arm with a cushion to be sure it is at the correct height. Your arm should be relaxed, not tensed.
When taking your reading with a home BP monitor:
Record two readings, either in the memory of your BP monitor or on computer or paper. We have included a sample record sheet at the end of this leaflet, which you can use. If you are monitoring for an irregular heartbeat, record each time the monitor indicates an irregular heartbeat has been detected (refer to your BP monitor instructions for details on how this will appear on the monitor screen).
Put the cuff on following the instructions that come with your monitor. You may have been asked to monitor for an irregular heartbeat as well as BP monitoring. If so, you will have been provided with a BP monitor that can detect this. Refer to your BP monitor instructions for details on how to use this feature on your BP monitor.
Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. If you are anxious or uncomfortable, this will make your blood pressure rise temporarily.
When you are taking your reading, keep still and silent. Moving and talking can affect your reading.
Take two or three readings, each about two minutes apart. Some people find that their first reading is much higher than the next readings. If this is the case for you, keep taking readings until they level out and stop falling, then use this as your reading.
What happens when i submit my readings?
- If the average blood pressure is normal then we will send an SMS message or email to your preferred contact informing you that no further action is needed. If your results are high then we will book an appointment for you with a member of our clinical team. We may ask for additional tests ahead of this appointment – your appointment booking message or letter will provide all of the information you need.