Hypertension

Hypertension – Blood pressure measurement

Find a Uniprix location offering the blood pressure measurement service

Hypertension, or “high blood pressure,” is a medical term that refers to elevated arterial pressure in your blood vessels. If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, you will need to keep a close watch on your blood pressure. Most Uniprix-affiliated pharmacies offer the blood pressure measurement service.

Generally speaking, hypertension can be defined as systolic pressure greater than 140 mmHg (millimetre of mercury) or diastolic pressure above 90 mmHg. The higher the pressure, the greater the chances of damage.

Ask your doctor how often you need to check your blood pressure. There are many ways to do so, including:

• A doctor’s appointment;
• Self-measurement at home using a personal blood pressure meter, which can be purchased in many Uniprix locations;
• A special device available in our pharmacies.

What’s more, to closely monitor your blood pressure, many Uniprix-affiliated pharmacies offer blood pressure measurement services. You will be guided to a self-administered blood pressure machine or asked to go to the prescription counter to have a member of our staff take the reading.

Ask your pharmacist for a hypertension health status log included in the health journal.

Find a Uniprix location offering the blood pressure measurement service

Hypertension – Consultation for blood pressure follow-up

Find a Uniprix location offering consultation services for blood pressure follow-up

In partnership with other health professionals, we can help you better manage your hypertension. Don’t hesitate to ask for a consultation on tracking your blood pressure.

You’ll be interested to know it has been shown that simple preventative measures can reduce by one-third the risk of developing hypertension. That’s why a healthy lifestyle can prevent disease and even control mild hypertension. Choose cardiovascular exercise (e.g. walking, biking), eat a balanced diet, reduce your salt intake, aim for a healthy weight and practise relaxation techniques.

If all these changes aren’t enough, you may need to take medications to control your hypertension. Your doctor may even prescribe more than one drug to manage the various symptoms of the illness. Don’t forget that when taking medications, the key to success is to follow the instructions to the letter, even if the benefits do not always seem obvious.

If you have questions about your drug therapy, ask to see your Uniprix-affiliated pharmacist for a consultation on your blood pressure follow-up. He’s there to help.

Remember that there are no miracle cures and that treatment must be tailored to each person. What works for you may not work for another person with high blood pressure.

Do you have questions on blood pressure measuring or on reading the results? Talk to your pharmacist!

Ask your pharmacist for the hypertension health status log included in the health journal.

Find a Uniprix location offering consultation services for blood pressure follow-up

Hypertension – Blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)

Find a Uniprix location offering the blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) service

Many Uniprix-affiliated pharmacies offer ABPM (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring). This instrument is used to measure blood pressure at various times during the day over a 24-hour period.

Establishing a hypertension diagnosis can take some time. In fact, the doctor must measure your blood pressure on several occasions to make sure that the variations are not caused by other factors, such as transient stress. If your doctor suspects that you have hypertension, he may also recommend that you measure your blood pressure at home for a given period of time using a device designed for this purpose. The ABPM, which can be rented in many Uniprix locations, is one example of this type of device. If your readings are frequently and regularly above the targets established by your doctor, see him as soon as possible.

The blood pressure monitor usually features an inflatable cuff you strap on your arm. The cuff is connected to a pump, a manometer (an instrument that gauges pressure) and a mini-computer, which stores the results of the various blood pressure readings taken over a period of 24 hours.

The results from the blood pressure monitor can help to diagnose the illness or ensure better follow-up. If you have any questions about blood pressure monitoring or if you would like to rent a monitor, see your Uniprix-affiliated pharmacist!

Ask your pharmacist for the hypertension health status log included in the health journal.

Find a Uniprix location offering the blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) service