Tips and Resources

As the second COVID-19 wave spreads across the country, many Canadians are either locked-down or in self imposed quarantines. The consequence is significantly fewer medical appointments and trips to emergency. 

Over 7.5 million Canadian’s have hypertension (high blood pressure). Frequently called “the silent killer”, most of us learn we have hypertension from our family doctors because there are no symptoms or pain to warn us we have the condition.

After six months into to COVID-19, several studies have revealed people with hypertension are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. In fact, there is mounting evidence that COVID-19 affects the heart, regardless of age and fitness levels of patients. The Center for Disease Control in the US has identified several underlying health conditions that put individuals at higher risk should they contract COVID-19. These include: serious heart diseases, COPD, obesity, cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and people with compromised immune systems¹.

Whether you have been diagnosed with hypertension (>135mmHg / >85mmHg) or your BP is in the “pre-hypertensive / elevated” range (>120mmHg / 80mmHg) self-monitoring blood pressure at home is highly valuable and clinically preferred to measurements at your doctor’s office…. here’s why.

Does your blood pressure rise when you go to your doctor?  White Coat Hypertension, sometimes referred to as “isolated hypertension” or “white coat syndrome” is defined as a phenomenon in people that have higher than their normal blood pressure in a clinical setting.

Over half of Canadians' over the age of 60 have hypertension (high blood pressure).