OT What is the most accurate home BP device

49er wrote:

Keep in mind if you place the cuff on wrong you will not get accurate readings. Also keep in mind that your BP is designed to vary, instantly, thruout the day. Find a place to rest your arm at heart level while the BP is being read and do it in the same place if you are going to get critical. Time of day can make a diff.

And be aware of how many medical professionals constantly take blood pressure incorrectly and don't realize the arm needs to be resting a heart level. During a recent doctor visit, the nurse took it with my arm dangling. I didn't feel like arguing with her since I had taken a recent reading and knew it was fine.

Anyway, it turned out to be 135/85 and since I had just walked to the facility about 10 minutes ago from my apartment,which was a 10 minute walk, I wasn't worried. The nurse was and acted like I was going to have a stroke.

Also be aware of "Burnout"... I remember going in to see my primary before I was dx'd w/OSA and the aid who took my BP said it was 120/80. I said wait get back here, I am here because my BP is running 200/100.

It turns out that OSA was a contributing factor. What I wanted to point out is that many times at blood drive, etc. the person doing BPs will just spout off what is within the normal range for many vitals.

It is good to know what is normal for you and ask if they don't tell you anything after taking your vitals.

And be aware of how many medical professionals constantly take blood pressure incorrectly and don't realize the arm needs to be resting a heart level. During a recent doctor visit, the nurse took it with my arm dangling. I didn't feel like arguing with her since I had taken a recent reading and knew it was fine.

THIS! Kaiser uses electronic machines and they always leave the arm dangling. I always look hypertensive there but at home I'm always on the low side-116/67 last night. At this time I refuse to let the techs take my BP. If the doctor wants to take it after we've been chatting for a few minutes, with a sphygmomanometer and proper technique I'll allow that.

I probably have a bit of "white coat syndrome" as well. They are bound and determined to treat my "hypertension" and I'd be passing out if it got much lower.

Blood pressure readings can be like beauty, it can depend in the eye of the beholder.

I went to my GP last year, he had a assistant taking readings before the dr visit. He used two hand pumped units. His readings were over 100 points over my norm on both machines.

When I got in to see the dr, I informed him, he checked it, everything was normal. How could a person taking training as a dr or nurse, but put out in the field not being abld to take a blood pressure reading, probably because their teacher could do the job either, so they teach. U.S.A, U.S.A., the land of no responsibility. Jim

My GP suggested that the arm cuff machines are more accurate than the wrist cuff machines.

There's been ONE tech in all my years of Kaiser who actually took a blood pressure correctly. And (Surprise!) it was low normal when she took it.

What really gets to me is that when they get a high reading, the tech offers to sign you up for a blood pressure "clinic" so you can listen to nice music and then have your blood pressure taken again. No thanks, I know how to take my own CORRECTLY. I don't need to waste MY time for their incompetence.

And when I complained to a doctor about the poor technique I was told "don't worry, studies show it only makes about a 10 mm/mg difference". HUH? That makes a big difference when they are diagnosing you with hypertension and putting you on meds. Meanwhile studies show that if you eliminate added salt from your diet it decreases your blood pressure by a whopping 3 mm/mg. Who here among us has not been told to reduce salt for blood pressure control???

Idiots!

Nick Danger wrote:My GP suggested that the arm cuff machines are more accurate than the wrist cuff machines.

Yea, don't get one of those.

On Omron 760N can you use a regular cuff with that machine instead of the still ComFit cuff that came with it? I was thinking of getting a new monitor but I don't like that stiff cuff.

Here are the top rated devices from Consumer Reports.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/ ... c7a00593ff