GUIDELINES FOR MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD-PRESSURE, FOLLOW-UP, AND LIFE-STYLE COUNSELING

As part of the Coalition's mandate to promote the prevention and contr ol of high blood pressure in Canada, an interdisciplinary Workgroup wa s established to review and update the existing standards (1987) for b lood pressure measurement and referral guidelines. The intent was to p repare a scientifically based document which contained practical guide lines for the measurement of blood pressure and criteria for follow-up , and one which promoted the concept of cardiovascular health in the a ssessment and interpretation of blood pressure readings. These guideli nes were primarily developed to assist primary health care providers a nd/or clicians to assess, monitor, counsel, refer, and develop treatme nt plans for adults-at-risk for high blood pressure or those with the confirmed diagnosis of hypertension. Readers are referred to The Canad ian Hypertension Society Consensus Conference series (Canadian Medical Association Journal 1993) for specific guidelines on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertension. The document is divided into three sections: 1. Measurement of blood pressure 2. Criteria for foll ow-up 3. Guidelines for lifestyle counselling Each section cites the r eferences used in developing the guidelines and where relevant, identi fies other resources which can be used in clinical practice.