[Assessment of blood pressure measurement for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of hypertension (author's transl)].

Blood pressure readings are the central parameter in the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of arterial hypertension. Frequent measurements are therefore necessary because the blood pressures of healthy people, and in particular of patients with hypertension, are subject to considerable variability. Emotional factors, physical strain and diurnal differences have a modifying effect. Attempts to standardize a single measurement such as has been tried in the determination of the basic blood pressure or the diastolic levels have proved of little relevance for information on the daily blood pressure profile. The frequent determination of a random blood pressure after 2 to 3 minutes rest is a logical alternative. Regular monitoring is almost ideally obtained, especially under antihypertensive drug therapy, by the patient measuring his own blood pressure.