Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when a patient suffers from having blood pressure that is above the norm. Even though blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day, a patient is diagnosed to have hypertension when it is consistently recorded to be above normal levels. Blood pressure is categorized into four stages, normal (130/80 mmHg), stage 1 (130-139/OR diastolic between 80-89 mmHg), stage 2 (140/90 mmHg or higher), and hypertensive crisis (180/120 mmHg or higher), in increasing severity.
Canada has the highest rates of recorded hypertension in the world with 1 in 4 adults suffering from the ailment. The prevalence of hypertension is higher among men between the ages of 20-64, however from ages 65 and up the prevalence among women becomes higher than men. Sadly, hypertension has a wide array of risk factors from age, weight, MBMI, waist circumference, lifestyle, gender, genetic factors, and more. Furthermore, the risk of hypertension has been recorded to be higher for those of African descent, and it has been observed that there are slight differences in the response to medication.
Untreated, hypertension can lead to some severe symptoms that may be debilitating. These symptoms include stroke, kidney disease, heart attack, vascular dementia, eye damage, peripheral vascular disease, and among women, complications during pregnancy. There is no current cure for hypertension, just management of the condition. A patient may need to alter their lifestyle, eating habits, and if necessary, take medication to lower their blood pressure. An important factor of living with hypertension is regularly monitoring blood pressure. This is one of the areas where digital telemonitoring solutions can be of help, to quickly communicate changes in condition to physicians and others.
Care.Wallet is a powerful tool that has the ability to have everything patients may need for successfully managing their health. If experiencing unexpected symptoms, a patient can book an appointment with a few clicks directly in the App. If a patient needs a ride to the facility, Care.Wallet has got them covered with a medical transportation solution embedded. If it’s not possible to have an in-office visit, Care.Wallet allows for booking online appointments via Global Telehealth Exchange.
With Care.Wallet the patient doesn’t have to worry about preparing for the appointment, as all their previous medical records are securely stored in their Care.Wallet and can be shared with all members of their care team in real-time. On top of that, Care.Wallet allows for symptom recording and management. Armed with all the necessary information, medical professionals can better evaluate the health condition of the patient and diagnose the problem. Prescriptions and referrals can be easily managed within the App as well. Care.Wallet has a comprehensive feedback function, called “How Are You Feeling Today” (HAYFT) Cards, that allows the patient to stay in touch with their care provider and report any changes to their health condition. In addition, the Care.Circle functionality provides an opportunity for the patient to have health information exchanged between all care professionals involved in their treatment. Family and friends can be invited to join their Care.Circle, as well to support the patient in their recovery and stay updated about their current health situation.
Care.Wallet is a powerful health management tool designed to offer a new improved standard of care and will improve the way healthcare works by putting patients in control of their health management. If you enjoyed this article, do take a look at our previous article ALS in New Zealand.
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