Blood Pressure Management Programme
This programme is NOT suitable for patients with postural drop or postural hypotension. HCP users are not allowed to proceed with registration for these patients.
The titration recommendations are NOT suitable for a patient who has any of the following conditions:
- woman who is pregnant, breastfeeding or considering pregnancy
- patient with postural drop or postural hypotension
Your Blood Pressure Check-in
Your Blood Pressure Check-in is an important part of using Viso to manage your blood pressure. National guidelines in England recommend measuring your blood pressure at home every morning and evening over at least 4 days in order to get an accurate picture of your blood pressure. During your Blood Pressure Check-in Viso will alert you to measure your blood pressure in the morning and the evening every day for at least 4 days.
- What happens with the data?
- Taking measurements over a few days gives an accurate picture of your blood pressure. Your GP surgery uses this to review your treatment plan.
- What happens if I miss a measurement or a day of measurements?
- Don't worry, just continue with the next measurement or on the next day! There is more than enough time during a Check-in (lasts up to 14 days) to submit sufficient measurements to your GP Surgery.
- What if I cannot take my blood pressure regularly the week I am asked to do so?
- You can postpone your Blood Pressure Check-in to start in a different week more convenient for you. It is important that we get your blood pressure readings to your GP Surgery so please note that:
- You can postpone the Check-in for 1 week (up to 1 month if your GP Surgery has marked your blood pressure as controlled and if you are not ungoing medication changes).
- You can’t put off two check-ins in a row. After postponing one Check-in, you will only be able to postpone again after you next participate in a Check-in. - Why did my Blood Pressure Check-in stop before the end of the week?
- Viso automatically calculates your average blood pressure after every measurement. When your average blood pressure is either a lot higher or a lot lower than your target, then less data is needed to confirm your blood pressure status. Therefore Viso may end your Check-in early. Don't worry, your data will be shared with your doctor in the usual way.
Before your Blood Pressure Check-in: You will be reminded in the Viso app when your Blood Pressure Check-in is about to start. You can already choose to postpone your Check-in at this point.
During your Blood Pressure Check-in: The app keeps track of how many measurements you have completed that are necessary for your Check-in and how many more need to be done. Please be reminded you need to take:
- One morning measurement (between 00:00 - 11:59) and one evening measurement (between 12:00 - 23:59) per day
- Take the measurements for at least 4 days, on any day during the Check-in period
After your Blood Pressure Check-in: If you have successfully completed your Blood Pressure Check-in the status bar shows your average blood pressure result. Tap the status bar to learn more about the result and what it may mean for you. Your doctor will use this data, along with the questionnaire that you submitted at the beginning your Blood Pressure Check-in, to review your treatment plan. If you did not take enough blood pressure measurements during your Blood Pressure Check-in, the status bar will indicate that your Blood Pressure Check-in was not completed. When a Blood Pressure Check-in is not completed, your doctor will still be able to review any data that you have submitted and decide if any action should be taken. You will continue your current medication step until next month unless your doctor recommends a different action, which you will be notified of via the app. If you did not submit any data, your doctor will be informed of the missed week and may contact you directly.
Medication Plan
In England high blood pressure is managed using a step-by-step approach to medication. A low dose of medication is prescribed at first, and then depending on the blood pressure response, higher doses, and additional medications, may be required. The steps that should be taken are very clearly defined by national guidelines for hypertension published by NICE.
A medication plan sets out a series of medication steps that may be taken if blood pressure is not controlled. In Viso a personalized plan may be decided by your doctor and added to the Viso system. Each step shows the type and dosage level of medication to be taken. You can view your personal plan in the medication tab.
Your blood pressure week is used to check whether your current medication has lowered your blood pressure to below your target. If your blood pressure is above target after your blood pressure week, your doctor may recommend that you move to the next step in your medication plan. When you move to the next step in your plan you will be issued a new prescription, and your medication schedule will be updated in Viso.
If you reach the end of your plan and your blood pressure is not yet below your target, your doctor will review if you need to extend your plan and move to the next step.
Managing high blood pressure through this a planned approach has been shown to be safe and effective in multiple clinical trials, with many people achieving lower blood pressure results than they had been under the usual care with their doctor.