Health of self-measured BP monitoring and have concluded that it plays an important role in the detection and monitoring for proper treatment of hypertension. Among the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, hypertension is among the most important. In light of the limitations to regular office visits, those of us who have high blood pressure should be using a home monitor. Results can be saved on the machine or manually recorded and made available to your physician when routine visits are restored. Meanwhile, if unacceptable levels are found, urgent contact with your physician can be made. One of the most recommended monitors is the Omron Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. A good monitor should be priced at about $100 and should be a certified cuff. Consult your pharmacist. Wrist cuffs are more convenient, but the upper arm cuff is believed to be superior. Follow all of the recommendations for proper use of the monitor. If your pressures are commonly higher than 130/90 (or 120/80 if you are diabetic), consult your doctor by phone to see if medications have to be started or changed. Personally, my blood pressure readings are always normal on my home cuff and elevated when I visit my doctor, which convinces me that there is a white coat syndrome. I periodically take my cuff in to compare at the same time as the office recording is made. Type 2 diabetes is another common chronic condition that requires regular monitoring, and accurate sugar levels can now be taken by the patient; consult the doctor by phone if advice is needed. Electronic blood sugar meters give an immediate result, allowing you to modify your diet or medication to achieve optimal results. For Type 1 diabetics or those with Type 2 using insulin, a device can be attached to the abdomen called a continuous glucose monitor, which constantly records sugar levels. Patients with heart disease must be diligent in following medical advice and be certain to maintain their supply of needed drugs and not wait until they are out of medication before renewing. Any change in condition must be reported to the physician immediately and, if this is not achievable, a visit to the emergency room should occur. Any increased swelling of the legs or feet, any increased shortness of breath or any unexplained chest pain requires an immediate physician examination. Another area of health care that could be compromised is the maintenance of appropriate immunizations. Currently, the most important one is influenza. In some provinces, regular vaccine as well as the more potent vaccine administered to persons over the age of 65 have been available, albeit with some interruptions, in pharmacies as well as public health clinics and doctors’ offices. All of us should be protected, especially during this pandemic. Other vaccinations may not have been considered, but should not be forgotten. Since the vast majority of seniors had chicken pox as children, it is recommended that we all have our vaccination for shingles. This viral infection, which is associated with painful blisters, is more common in seniors and, in some cases, can result in a serious ongoing problem with pain that in some cases lasts for a lifetime. Shingrex, the vaccine, is more than 90% effective in preventing shingles in seniors and Health Canada recommends that we all receive this two-dose immunization after the age of 50, whether or not we know of a history of chicken pox. Pneumovax, the ‘pneumonia vaccine’, is another immunization which is often forgotten. Strongly recommended for seniors, it is often one that is not discussed. Be sure to ask about this when doctor visits return to normal. Since the pandemic, doctors in Canada are using the telephone, the computer and televised technology to communicate with patients more often, thereby being able to limit office visits to essential consultations only. Telemedicine has been in common use over the years, especially in more remote areas, but it is now being used extensively throughout Canada during the pandemic. CSANews | WINTER 2020 | 35
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