Monitoring your blood pressure with the Viso app (coming soon)
GP Practices in our network will soon offer the opportunity for patients with hypertension to monitor their blood pressure at home and share their blood pressure readings directly back to their GP from home using the Viso app.
Why do I need to monitor my blood pressure?
High blood pressure (BP), or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.
High blood pressure affects more than 1 in 4 adults in England; around 50% of all heart attack and strokes are associated with high BP and it is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease, heart failure and dementia.
What happens if I don’t stay on top of my high blood pressure?
Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of some serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:
- heart disease
- heart attacks
- strokes
- heart failure
- peripheral arterial disease
- aortic aneurysms
- kidney disease
- vascular dementia
Prevention is key. If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions.
Why has your practice commissioned Viso for the BP at Home service?
In line with NHS England recommendations, Bexhill Primary Care Network is working in partnership with Omron Healthcare to implement blood pressure (BP) monitoring at home for patients with a diagnosis of hypertension, enabling treatment to be optimised where necessary.
Omron Healthcare – the leading brand in blood pressure management – developed the Hypertension Plus programme, now called “Viso”. The NHS-approved Viso app keeps an eye on your health between appointments.
Viso asks for information your GP practice team needs to know and responds with expert advice. It builds a more complete view of your health over time and alerts you to take action when significant changes are detected.
Viso is always free to use and can only be accessed with an invitation from your GP surgery.
Monitoring blood pressure remotely through Viso has multiple benefits. From the patient perspective, it will not be necessary to book an appointment and attend the surgery for a blood pressure check. It enables healthcare professionals to keep track of a person’s health, provide them with the information needed to look after their health and help them access the right treatment when required.
In addition, taking measurements in the comfort of one’s own home can better reflect blood pressure, as being tested in a medical environment can make some people feel anxious, affecting results.
How does the service work?
Patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be contacted by their GP Practice, inviting them to register with the Viso programme. Invites will typically be sent via SMS text message, requesting the patient to accept or decline the invitation.
People who agree to participate will be contacted with details on registering to use the service.
What if I don’t have a Home Monitor?
If you don’t already have a suitable BP monitor, you can buy one for around £10. Do get in touch if you need any advice about the best one to buy. If you’re not able to buy one, we may be able to provide a BP monitor for you.
If you need guidance and support to use the app to provide BP readings, our Care Coordinator. Emma, is available to help.
Once you submit BP readings, your GP Practice can view these and advise any changes required to your treatment.
What will you gain from Hypertension plus
The programme will be a great way to help you and your doctor agree on a hypertension plan and keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. You will also be able to do the following:
- Record and share up to date blood pressure readings with your doctor via the app
- Save time with convenient home monitoring instead of having to visit the surgery
- Stay on the right medication plan, agreed by yourself and your doctor
- Make faster progress towards your target blood pressure
For more information about Viso visit their website or contact our Care Coordinator Emma on 01424 320 752.
You can also see guidance on reaching your target blood pressure on the Omron Healthcare website.