Blood pressure monitoring and education
At Wellness Pharmacy, we provide blood pressure monitoring assistance and education to patients with hypertension to support them in achieving their blood pressure goals.
All of our pharmacies have blood pressure kiosks that patients can use free of charge to check their blood pressure. We also stock a variety of home blood pressure monitors, whether you’re looking for a simple economical option or an advanced meter that performs multiple tests per sitting and stores past readings. Our pharmacists can teach you how to use the home pressure monitors.
Because hypertension symptoms can be invisible, we offer heart health clinics where we test blood pressure to screen for possible hypertension in patients who may not be aware of their possible health condition. If indicated, we inform their physician and refer the patient to follow up with their physician for further assessment.
What is high blood pressure or hypertension?
High blood pressure or hypertension is a common medical condition that affects more than 5 million Canadians. Blood pressure is the force of the blood against the walls of your arteries. When blood pressure is high, the heart needs to work harder to pump the blood, which can cause damage to your heart and blood vessels over time.
Uncontrolled blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. The likelihood of developing hypertension increases with age. Unfortunately, people with hypertension may not have any symptoms, which means they can have it for years and not know it.
How can I lower my blood pressure?
Here are some simple tips to help lower your blood pressure:
- Reduce salt intake – limit to 2300 mg of sodium per day.
- Try to maintain your ideal body weight or if overweight, try to reduce weight.
- Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day.
- Try to manage your stress levels.
- Limit your alcohol intake to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
- Stop smoking or refrain from starting.