topic Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Wellness

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Cats3000 — Mon, 05 May 2014 12:27:23 GMT

Before you buy a wrist blood pressure monitor, read the information on the "Choosing A Home Blood Pressure Monitor" page of the American Heart Association's website. You'll find the following: "Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because they yield less reliable results".

The website also has a lot of information about blood pressure monitoring including how to choose a monitor and other advice. Read the information and then discuss what you've read with your doctor. He or she is the best source for all information if you've been told that you have high blood pressure and need to control it.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

violann — Mon, 05 May 2014 12:37:39 GMT

I have read this information, but since my wrist unit yields results that are pretty much the same as my 3 different doctors' offices, i continue to use it. I take my BP every morning and every night.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Judaline — Mon, 05 May 2014 12:42:08 GMT

The nurse told me when I bought a wrist monitor to take it to my local fire dept and have them test it against theirs. Not only did I get to find out mine's just about as accurate as theirs, but I got to see all the cute fireman LOL. It was fun. Any single gals out there........just sayin'

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

151949 — Mon, 05 May 2014 15:59:17 GMT

About once a year my DH takes his wrist BP monitor to the doctor's office and checks it's result against their upper arm one and they are always within reasonable parameters- a few points.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Krimpette — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:04:50 GMT

Another wrist monitor user here. My doc is fine with that.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Buck-i-Nana — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:09:24 GMT

I also use a wrist BP monitor and always take it with me to my Dr appointments. My wrist readings are always within a point or 2 of the Dr's office cuff and my Dr thinks they are great. He recommends them to his patients now because he believes his patients will use them more regularly than the cuff style as they are easier to manage, especially for his patients that have dexterity issues.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

PinkyPetunia — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:12:34 GMT

I brought my wrist unit to my doctor and she showed me how to hold my arm so that I got the same reading as her office unit. It's very helpful to check your BP at home at different times throughout the day.

My doc says I have ""white coat syndrome"" and my BP is high when she first takes it. Then she takes it at the end of the exam and it's much lower.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Justice4all — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:16:26 GMT

I returned the Veridian. It was far worst than useless. In fact, unconscionable.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

LilacTree — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:21:19 GMT

I invested in an Omron upper arm BP710 monitor. It is rated the best and was not cheap. My BP is normal now ever since I stopped using ibuprofen, which I had used for years and which was responsible for my high BP.

Two doctors had given me BP meds, and both knew I was on daily ibuprofen. I was talking to a nurse last week (she's coming here tomorrow to check up on me for the LTC insurance company), and she said "doctors don't know anything about meds."

Now do I take the word of a nurse over a doctor? Yes I do. Why? Because every illness I have except the RA (which they could have seen coming 20 years prior and couldn't do anything about) . . . every other illness/condition I have has been brought on by side effects of meds I have taken for RA. And, with the exception of the high BP, they have not gone away, they are permanent.

Anyway, I realize that was a little OT. My apologies.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

hckynut — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:20:30 GMT

On 5/5/2014 Cats3000 said:
Before you buy a wrist blood pressure monitor, read the information on the "Choosing A Home Blood Pressure Monitor" page of the American Heart Association's website. You'll find the following: "Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because they yield less reliable results".

The website also has a lot of information about blood pressure monitoring including how to choose a monitor and other advice. Read the information and then discuss what you've read with your doctor. He or she is the best source for all information if you've been told that you have high blood pressure and need to control it.

This is true of "some" wrist monitors and pretty much every finger monitor I have used. Now I do use a finger Oximeter and it works great.

Have used Omron wrist monitors for many years now and have had them double/triple and more, checked by almost every doctor and Rehab Class I attended since my first round of PE's back in 2002. The differences where negligible and not could, at best, vary slightly just as the same "hospital/doctor" and other methods of taking ones blood pressure changes.

There is a proper way of arm placement along with "same time of day" that are also as imperative as to what is used to take ones BP. While there may be a slight differences in the numbers, most home BP Monitors are to point out "changes" in BP as opposed to accuracy in comparison to other "so-called, the best" methods of an accurate reading.

While total accuracy is primary way too many variables can alter ones BP reading, even like talking to someone while it is being taken, just to name a slight one. I take my BP with my Omron daily, sometimes multiple times a day depending of what I have had done to this old body.

I have done my own personal studies on the accuracy of our Omron Wrist BP Monitors and for our use what little difference there may be in the old "pump the ball method", which depends on who is pumping and reading, I will stick with my Omron for our use. General studies show certain things, but nothing is more important than knowing your own "personal study done by comparison" and for my well being I rely on what I know to be true for my body and not humans in general when it comes to "what is best for everyone" or statements like "you are in the normal range" often lieu by those in medicine instead of "specific numbers".

While a persons doctor is certainly the best source, it has to be a doctor that is also familiar with ones health, physical and mental, doing the deciding.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

violann — Mon, 05 May 2014 18:02:11 GMT

On 5/5/2014 Justice4all said: I returned the Veridian. It was far worst than useless. In fact, unconscionable.

I am interested in knowing what specific things the Veridian did that led you to your observation that it was "far worst (sic) than useless" and "unconscionable". What did it do or not do?

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

NanaS — Sat, 31 May 2014 12:31:46 GMT

Ive used a wrist monitor for years. I have WHITE COAT SYNDROME ...i.e. higher blood pressure in the docs office than at home. So I take my pressure at home and when I go in to see the doc I take my log with me . I have taken my wrist monitor to the docs office to check it against their BP cuff and it always comes out within one or two points. Its very accurate.

The doctor is convinced and so am I.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Justice4all — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 12:43:18 GMT

The veridian not only would not give an anywhere near accurate or consistent measurement, but it squeezed so hard it was painful and vein popping. I have an omron arm which is accurate.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Shelbelle — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 19:49:04 GMT

I have to use a wrist monitor because it is the cuff that gives me terrible White Coat Syndrome, my doctor says it is fine to use a wrist monitor. She said only those who have a very weak pulse should not use it.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

DoneTryin — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:04:15 GMT

My primary care physician told me not to use a wrist monitor, so I use the regular one. I've seen a great improvement in my BP since I quit smoking & quit using ibuprofen. Now I need to lose weight & it'll get even better.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

scotnovel — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:17:41 GMT

I use a Walgreen's brand wrist monitor and it has always been very accurate. One reason some of these monitors seem to be inaccurate is that people don't follow the directions for arm placement.

My blood pressure sometimes runs very low and the nurses or techs in the doctors office have difficulty taking it using the traditional method. Usually the doctor takes mine herself and we compare it to my wrist reading and it is always right on or a point or two difference. .

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Montana — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 22:15:47 GMT

I use an Omron wrist monitor that flashes a light to indicate whether or not placement is correct - blue if ok; red if not. Nice to have this visual feedback.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

OnlyShopsOnline — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 20:54:19 GMT

We had an old wrist monitor that was not very accurate and we got rid of it years ago. Then, on my last doctor's visit, I noticed he was now using one. I didn't pay attention at the time, to which brand he was using, so I did some research and purchased one that was recommended on the Cleveland Clinic website...they had several monitors that they recommended. So far, our new wrist monitor is spot on, as long as you follow the instructions.

We've also had several arm band monitors that were very inaccurate.

The best advice, I think, is to check reviews and when you purchase one, get it tested.

Re: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

OnlyShopsOnline — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 20:54:54 GMT

On 6/3/2014 Montana said:
I use an Omron wrist monitor that flashes a light to indicate whether or not placement is correct - blue if ok; red if not. Nice to have this visual feedback.

That may be the one that we have too.