It’s important to know that the blood pressure (BP) measurements you take at home may be different from the readings you have taken at a clinic. At-home measurements tend to be more accurate.
That’s because some people’s BP rises abnormally high at the doctor’s office due to the added stress of a healthcare visit. Measuring and tracking your BP at home can give your doctor more reliable data on which to base your treatment.
The American Heart Association has different guidelines for what qualifies as Stage 1 or Stage 2 hypertension, depending on where the reading was taken (see below). When your doctor goes over your at-home measurements, he or she should take this difference into account.