Only readings obtained using recommended technique are appropriate when making decisions about long-term cardiovascular risk or the potential for therapeutic intervention. This article should not discourage the measurement of blood pressure. Many Canadians either are unaware of their high blood pressure or have poorly controlled hypertension. 8 Adult Canadians need to have their blood pressure measured at all suitable opportunities. However, blood pressure must be measured appropriately if patients are to benefit fully from therapeutic intervention.
Several publications discuss how to measure blood pressure.
We thank Dr. Martin G. Myers for helpful comments and Leslie Holmes for secretarial assistance. Dr. McKay is with the Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Nfld. Clinical assessment of blood pressure. Pickering TG, editor. Prevalence of white coat effect in treated hypertensive patients in the community.