What is commonly assessed when evaluating a patient for hypertension?

When evaluating a patient for hypertension, blood pressure readings are the primary and most critical assessments. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is defined by consistently elevated readings over two or more office visits. Therefore, measuring blood pressure is essential for diagnosing the condition and monitoring the effectiveness of any treatment initiated.

Regular blood pressure checks allow healthcare providers to determine if a patient falls within the normal range, has prehypertension, or is diagnosed with hypertension. It provides immediate and measurable data that is fundamental to managing heart health, as uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to significant complications like heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.

Other aspects of cardiovascular health, such as body temperature readings, electrocardiogram results, and cholesterol levels, can provide additional context or information about a patient's overall health but are not directly used to assess for hypertension itself. Each of these evaluations serves different purposes in a patient's health assessment but does not replace the need for blood pressure monitoring as the cornerstone of hypertension evaluation.