Guidelines for measurement of blood pressure, follow-up, and lifestyle counselling. Canadian Coalition for High Blood Pressure Prevention and Control.

As part of the Coalition's mandate to promote the prevention and control of high blood pressure in Canada, an interdisciplinary Workgroup was established to review and update the existing standards (1987) for blood pressure measurement and referral guidelines. The intent was to prepare a scientifically based document which contained practical guidelines for the measurement of blood pressure and criteria for follow-up, and one which promoted the concept of cardiovascular health in the assessment and interpretation of blood pressure readings. These guidelines were primarily developed to assist primary health care providers and/or clinicians to assess, monitor, counsel, refer, and develop treatment plans for adults-at-risk for high blood pressure or those with the confirmed diagnosis of hypertension. Readers are referred to The Canadian 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 follow-up 3. Guidelines for lifestyle counselling Each section cites the references used in developing the guidelines and where relevant, identifies other resources which can be used in clinical practice.