Blood Pressure Monitors

dragona

Ok -I now have high blood pressure to add to my long LONG list of ailments:) 158/102, 139/97 etc :eek: so in conjunction with meds from doc I was wondering if there would be a benefit in buying one, as they are now half price in Boots and how often it would be beneficial for me to check said pressure??? thanks

DrIndy

Have a chat with your doctor the next time you see him/her about this. Monitoring might help, but if you are conciously measuring something, the results can be skewed.

drzhivago

DrIndy wrote: »

Have a chat with your doctor the next time you see him/her about this. Monitoring might help, but if you are conciously measuring something, the results can be skewed.

Sorry to disagree here but if you are regularly monitoring are less likely to be stressed about results and have true values

If go to GP once per month and always worried re same may end up overmedicated as BP constantly high with GP but background level may be lower

tallaght01

It could go either way, though, and DrIndy suggested the right course of action...to talk to her GP. The need, or benefit, of monitoring depends on the individual situation, and we're not the people to judge that.

Chunky Monkey

Those home BP monitors can be incredibly inaccurate if they aren't calibrated regularly...we did some experiments with them recently and they were coming out with ridiculous numbers like systole >200 and was completely different when measured with the sphygy.

Dr Galen

agree with you all to differing extents but mostly with Chunky. Time of day, position, what you've just done (smoke?) etc etc etc can have an effect on those yokes much moreso than the hospital grade ones.

Granny on law bought one as she's in a similar situation, but was measuring at random times, mostly though just as she woke up in the AM and she used to get all sorts of readings. We tried the same thing, borrowed a sphig and got totally different results.

Those machines are sold and marketing to play off the fears and interest over the last few years that people have taken in all health related matters. Bit like those "MRSA Defence" packs and products you see in most chemists. Pretty much a waste of money, for the usual man in the street. Good general hygiene and plenty of handwashing with a decent quality soap will do the same trick for a hell of a lot less.

drzhivago

Chunky Monkey wrote: »

Those home BP monitors can be incredibly inaccurate if they aren't calibrated regularly...we did some experiments with them recently and they were coming out with ridiculous numbers like systole >200 and was completely different when measured with the sphygy.

I dont think its the calibration if they were that bad they wouldnt be allowed on the market

Use them quite a bit for sports screening clinics

They give skewy results when people treat the machine badly eg If the tubes are pulled at or loose connections


Other than that they were fine

Do one BP on myself first before the gang to check its working properly, later and then off I go.

I.P. Freely

drzhivago wrote: »

Sorry to disagree here but if you are regularly monitoring are less likely to be stressed about results and have true values

If go to GP once per month and always worried re same may end up overmedicated as BP constantly high with GP but background level may be lower

patients can become 'obsessed' with monitoring their blood pressure, and they can easily get agitated if there is any sort of difference and assume there is something wrong. Your BP tends to go up if that happens and is inaccurate. I have seen this before. My advice is to buy a digital Blood pressure monitor, and check your BP about 2-3 times a day if youre worried, and a tip is to check it when youre relaxed, have a cup of tes, sit down in front of the tv and take it then. Take it lying down, sitting and standing up. But most of all, dont worry!!! Your high BP could be due to stress and anxiety and is easily rectified. Hope i helped!!

DrIndy

The only gold standard here to either diagnose or follow treatment is a 24 hour BP monitor - if concerned, this is the best option and your GP can arrange it.

If you are anxious, the machine can be blinded so the readings are not displayed which ensure it is not anxiety related high blood pressure which a surprising number of people have.

Have a chat the next time you are in your GP's surgery.

dragona

DrIndy wrote: »

The only gold standard here to either diagnose or follow treatment is a 24 hour BP monitor - if concerned, this is the best option and your GP can arrange it.

Yep, did this already - was found to have high BP which is now why I am on meds since last week.....I think a reading of 158/102 upon waking after 7 hrs sleep is a bit high, no? Plus other v high readings throughout evening/night/day.....anyway I only really wanted to know if there is any benefit to me periodically checking my own BP as these monitors are still half price, and I have not yet decided whether to buy one or NOT!!!!

tallaght01

dragona, that's a call you have to make in conjunction with your own GP. This isn't a medical advice board. It's supposed to be for discussion of general medical issues, not individual issues.

dragona

Well I am not looking for medical advice at all -I have a doctor for that -I am just wondering whether it is beneficial to check ones own blood pressure periodically - I just threw in my own info as a sort of justification as to why I might want to.......OK? Thanks all!

Gadfly

Hi,

If you are going to get a monitor, invest in one of these:
http://www.medisave.co.uk/omron-m6-comfort-blood-pressure-monitor-p-8326.html

I bought a Boots model a year ago. It's accurate enough, but it's not clinically validated.

I think buying a monitor is fine as long as you don't become obsessed (as I did for a while). It's a good way to keep an eye on you BP to see what health changes are working in your life. Look at diet and exercise.

I am off medication for a while now.

Click my signature below.

samhail

I agree with not wasting your money on the cheaper ones. We bought a cheaper one but it was totally inaccurrate. happy with the new one we got

Fiddle Castro

Dragona / all,

You mention that they were half price, can you tell me where that was?
Mmy Mother has to get one on Doctors orders & I was just wondering if anyone had any reccomendations as to where / which one to get??

Thanks


Ah ha, Boots!! Guess I need to read more closely!!