Much needed Blood Pressure monitors donated to Chawton Park Surgery
Alton Lions were pleased to present 15 Blood Pressure monitors to Chawton Park Surgery. The monitors which cost £288 will be used to loan to patients so that they can monitor their own blood presure at home. The benefits of this are:
Monitoring your blood pressure at home is highly recommended by the NHS and organisations like the British Heart Foundation. According to NHS England and the BP@Home initiative, regular home monitoring offers several significant clinical and personal benefits.
1. Eliminating "White Coat Effect"
One of the primary benefits is obtaining more accurate readings. Many people experience "White coat hypertension," where their blood pressure spikes in a clinical environment due to the stress of being in a surgery or hospital. Monitoring at home provides a more realistic "day-to-day" picture of your heart health in a relaxed environment.
2. Empowering Self-Management
The NHS emphasises that home monitoring helps patients feel more in control of their own health.
Motivation: Seeing the immediate impact of lifestyle changes (like better diet or exercise) on your numbers can keep you motivated.
Adherence: Patients who monitor at home are often more likely to stick to their prescribed medication schedules.
3. Better Diagnosis and Treatment
Regular readings provide your GP with a "diary" of data rather than a single snapshot. This helps healthcare professionals:
Confirm if a high reading in the surgery was a one-off or a persistent issue.
Fine-tune medication dosages more accurately based on how you respond throughout the week.
Identify "masked hypertension," where blood pressure is normal in the clinic but high at home.
4. Reducing Serious Health Risks
High blood pressure is often a "silent" condition with no symptoms. According to NHS England, regular home monitoring across a population can prevent a significant number of clinical events. For every 50,000 patients monitoring at home, it is estimated that up to 500 heart attacks and 745 strokes could be prevented over five years.
Presenting the monitors Lion President Paul Taroni said “I am proud to present these blood pressure monitors to Chawton Park Surgery. Empowering patients by providing easy access to the tools they need right at home. We are helping individuals take an active role in monitoring their own health, allowing for more accurate readings and a clearer path on their long-term health journey."
From left to right Lion Mike Baker, Chawton Park Surgery Patient facilitator Claire, Lions President Paul Taroni, Lion Moira Baker.