Blood Pressure monitor

[street]

I have an Omron. I have been ordered by my doc to monitor BP twice a day and report back in a month. Yesterday evening I did not walk and BP was 151/90 (a bit higher than normal). Today I did a brisk walk of about a mile with steep hills. BP was 113/84 about 20 minutes after the walk. This seems to be the norm with walking and not walking for me.

That was very common for me also. The more active I was before i took my BP the better it was.

 

[audreyh1]

I almost always get to sit and relax in the doctor's waiting room for anywhere from 10 minutes to and hour before my BP reading!

For me though once I’m called, it’s rush rush rush, my heart rate goes up from walking fast plus probably just stress from doctor’s office business. Then they take my BP.

It didn’t matter how long I sat in the waiting room.

Maybe if they brought the BP measuring device to me in the waiting room it would solve the problem.

 

[Bamaman]

What type of specialist is the Doctor who recommended home BP checking? I had been using the Omron machine for about 8 years until my Cardiologist recommended using the stethoscope , cuff and dial like he and his staff use. So I now use a Littmann stethoscope with the W A Baum cuff and sphygmomanometer. I upgraded to the WA Baum desktop sphygmomanometer because the dial is 6" in diameter and much easier to read.
Warning...this is a $300 solution that requires 2 people- the patient and another person who wears the stethoscope and listens.
What is the best solution for you? You decide. My $300 solution is best for me because I am a 5 year + survivor of cardiac arrest and the $300 solution is worth it since it may have helped keep me alive.

When my blood pressure is taken, I can feel the deflation to the point where my top number is and where the low number is. No stethoscope is really needed in my situation. I'm sure you're getting more accurate numbers with your manual instument. Unfortunately, the pressure is going to be slightly different in 30 seconds and blood pressures are just relative measurements.

 

[DrRoy]

DW and I recently tested slightly high for A1C (5.9 and 5.7, vs max 5.6 OK). We recently ordered at home tests. Anyone have experience with that?

 

[braumeister]

DW and I recently tested slightly high for A1C (5.9 and 5.7, vs max 5.6 OK). We recently ordered at home tests. Anyone have experience with that?

IDK if they still do, but Walgreens used to carry A1C tests. Two in a package, I think about $40-50. I used them a couple of times, and the results agreed with tests at my doctor so I think they're reliable.

 

[Ronstar]

It makes a big difference when BP is taken. Yesterday after dinner and 2 beers systolic was 14 points higher than this morning before breakfast. Diastolic 1 pt difference.

As to exercise effect on bp - I dug out my stress test report. Systolic jumped 34 points during 13 minute stress test and fell 30 points in 6 minutes after stopping exercise. Diastolic fell 10 points during exercise and stayed there for at least 6 minutes after stopping exercise. YMMV

 

[Koolau]

We recently purchased what I assume is the "store brand" (EQUATE) middle-of-the-road BP unit from CVS Pharmacy. $40. It is battery operated, not plug-in. No way to know if accurate, but it works just like the one at the doc's office. They use a machine now - not a human. Maybe they switched to machines because my BP goes up when a pretty nurse grabs my arm.

Doc didn't even suggest how "good" a unit to buy. Just said "buy one" and follow the instructions - and record the data. YMMV

 

[wildsun]

Bp readings vary widely with cuff height relative to right ventricle and, separately, body posture. It’s a hydraulic problem, as in hydraulic engineering.

Cuff needs to be level with the right ventricle. Body posture needs to be sitting erect with feet on the floor. Try reading bp in the supine position with your arm dangling below you on the floor. Then measure bp while standing on your feet with the cuff on your arm raised over your head. Very different readings. Consistency is important as with any test measurement.

So how does one figure out the height of their right ventricle

 

[wildsun]

I've had wrist and upper arm cuff monitors that I use at home. Omron (or maybe its Garmin) has a "smart watch" style wrist monitor that gets good reviews for accuracy. Several other smart watch brands say they do blood pressure but actually do an EKG. The EKG is useful as I understand it, but not the same as a blood pressure monitor. I think it may be Samsung that has a smart watch model that has a traditional cuff built into the watch's wrist band, and have heard that this is better than other smart watch approaches.

Mainly I'm confused. A wearable monitor would be ideal for me, but info is sketchy about what to buy. Mainly folks say stay with the old clunky upper arm style.

 

[audreyh1]

Since your resting heart rate is what is compared against norms, I don’t see a benefit in wearing a continuous BP monitor. As soon as you get up and move your BP and heart rate will go up. When you exercise vigorously they will go up even higher.

 

[catii]

I have an Omrom Platinum, which perfectly matches the MANUAL readings at my PCP's office (don't bet that their digital device is accurate!). My wife takes it right after dinner, & lists it, along with my temperature & oxygen level.

 

[a60dan]

Omron upper arm with Bluetooth.

2 person setting to keep our readings separate.

Syncs with Apple Health app.

Brought it to doctors office just to confirm we get similar readings.

 

[jayanu]

Anyone use a home blood pressure monitor? My doc suggested that I check my bp every once in a while. Just wondering if anyone checks theirs at home and what they use.

I use Omron's upper arm cuff - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RX8WQ4K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My cardiologist recommended it. I used to have an Omron Wrist bp monitor but this is more accurate. Omron has also on its site but when I talked to Omron they said they make special (and cheaper) for Amazon and suggested I buy from Amazon.

I checked with Dr's mercury one also.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I have an equate from Walmart, cost ~$25 I think when I got it. It jives almost exactly with the doctors results. I took it in with me when I got it to check. He did a manual check and I used my meter.

I would not mind betting it is made by Omron as it looks identical, has a big memory, date and time etc. "Save That Dough".

 

[wildsun]

Since your resting heart rate is what is compared against norms, I don’t see a benefit in wearing a continuous BP monitor. As soon as you get up and move your BP and heart rate will go up. When you exercise vigorously they will go up even higher.

Good point.

However one of the risks of high BP is stroke, and those are more likely to happen during peak periods of high blood pressure. My thought was that I could:

a) pick BP levels from periods of time when I was "resting", in order to have a record for my doctor of what the BP was during such times, and

b) watch the peak levels, to understand how bad the BP gets during periods of stress, high activity, strenuous work, etc.

Seems like both of those are important to my health, and to being able to make better choices in my life.

And the fact that collection of BP stats would be automatic is a major plus, because I would have a more comprehensive record of my BP. Right now I regularly forget to put the cuff on and check.

 

[NOLA]

I’m using a iHeath monitor that is sends my readings by cell phone to a digital health coach at physician’s office. If reading is out of range I get a message to retake it in 10 minutes. If I don’t take it for 8 days get a reminder to take it.
Because my BP was trending upward the health coach, a Pharmacist, recommended my physician RX a additional BP med to my existing hypertension meds and physician agreed.
My BP had been trending down, especially the systolic pressure.
Have mixed feelings. Is this an example of over medicating? Or was it a good catch?
If I had not been using the monitor probably this trend would not have been obvious.
Concerned that the more we test the more we treat. On the other hand, while ignorance may be bliss, not knowing, or denying symptoms , can wind up causing serious consequences.

 

[audreyh1]

Good point.

However one of the risks of high BP is stroke, and those are more likely to happen during peak periods of high blood pressure. My thought was that I could:

a) pick BP levels from periods of time when I was "resting", in order to have a record for my doctor of what the BP was during such times, and

b) watch the peak levels, to understand how bad the BP gets during periods of stress, high activity, strenuous work, etc.

Seems like both of those are important to my health, and to being able to make better choices in my life.

And the fact that collection of BP stats would be automatic is a major plus, because I would have a more comprehensive record of my BP. Right now I regularly forget to put the cuff on and check.

I just don’t think you are going to find anything actionable besides having your own personal resting BP record which you can share with the doctor.

In terms of diseases like stroke, heart disease, hypertension, pre-diabetes/diabetes, non-alcohol fatty liver, gout, etc., I recommend you get metabolic health markers like fasting insulin, HbA1C and/or fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL, and ALT tested and focus on being metabolically healthy.