If you’ve been reading up online about managing your hypertension, you’ll know that most treatment plans recommend monitoring your blood pressure

We agree. But we also recommend another test you can do to gain more insight into the long-term efficacy of your hypertension management plan: blood tests.

As part of a holistic treatment plan like our Motion program, regular blood tests can help you detect hypertension-related conditions, medication side effects, and offer insight into how nutrition affects your blood pressure. 

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the 4 reasons why blood tests are an essential part of managing your hypertension while maintaining or enhancing your quality of life.

Ready to take a proactive approach to monitoring your health? Let’s dive in.

Reason 1: Early Detection of Age-Related Conditions

Regular blood tests help in the early detection and management of hypertension in older adults. But they also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and conditions, caused by high blood pressure.

Most people believe that hypertension and its complications are an inevitable part of getting older. However, studies show that detecting and managing hypertension significantly reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases and delay (or even prevent!) age-related complications.

Reason 2: Monitor Medication Efficacy & Side Effects

Regular blood tests help you monitor and adjust your antihypertensive medication. 

Most people assume that hypertension medication is a set-it-and-forget-it measure, that once prescribed, they do not need to be (or can’t be!) reevaluated and changed. But the truth is, monitoring how your medication affects your health on an ongoing basis is crucial because your response to the medication might change over time.

Medication treats the symptoms of high blood pressure, not the root cause. A reduction or stabilization of your blood pressure, as a result of your medicine, does not mean that your health is improving or that your medication has “fixed” the underlying cause of your hypertension.

Routine blood tests give you a metaphorical compass to find the optimal dose that effectively manages your blood pressure while reducing the risk of adverse effects to a minimum.

Reason 3: Insight into Nutritional Deficiencies

A common misconception is that hypertension is only related to a high salt intake, and not other nutritional factors. 

However, deficiencies in nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and calcium can also play significant roles in regulating blood pressure.

Regular blood tests can help identify these deficiencies. This way, you know what foods to add, not just take away.

This is good news! Your comfort foods and go-to meals can have a place in a heart-healthy diet, as long as you are actively aware of how they interact with your medication and your blood pressure.

Reason 4: Personalized Health Planning

A common assumption is that a “one-size-fits-all” approach works for hypertension management. But in reality, your treatment plan should address your individual needs and conditions. 

For example, the American Heart Association found that evaluation of blood biomarkers such as cholesterol, hemoglobin, and creatinine can help your physician identify and potentially cure the form of hypertension you have. These can also flag early warning signs of potential cardiovascular issues or organ damage, caused by hypertension or other risk factors you have.

Personalizing your health planning, based on data from regular blood tests, can significantly boost the outcomes of your program.

“Why Don’t More Hypertensive People Do Blood Tests?”

Even though blood tests are just as important as blood pressure tests, you might not have convenient access to a laboratory, technician, or testing center. 

Regular DIY blood tests help you easily monitor your cholesterol and heart health, as well as the effectiveness of your treatment plan — from the comfort of your own home.  

Blood tests provide a window into how your body functions and show us how healthy you are. This is why we’ve designed our Motion program to be holistic — it focuses on measuring and addressing the root cause of chronic illness as it relates to our physical activity and our habits, not just the symptoms.