Blood Pressure monitor

[audreyh1]

I believe it’s a well documented phenomenon that aerobic exercise causes blood vessels to dilate (open) to pump more blood and provide more oxygen during the exercise. I don’t know how long the effect lasts post exercise.

But blood pressure goes up during the exercise.

 

[jollystomper]

I have both cuff and wrist monitors. The cuff monitor does have an irregular heartbeat monitor. The wrist monitor has come out close enough to the cuff monitor and doctor visits that I use it more frequently.

 

[OldShooter]

Omron appears to be the market share leader; that's the brand I see most often in Dr. offices. Omron also private labels. I have a "RelyOn" brand monitor bought from Walmart and manufactured by Omron. Given the importance of good measurements I see no reason to experiment with any other manufacturer's products.

 

[Bamaman]

I use the Omron 3 Series upper arm monitor. Doc recommends the upper arm ones saying the wrist ones are not that accurate. I've had to check my BP for years, so perhaps the wrist ones are better now

That's what my wife also uses. Three weeks ago, she was feeling faint. She couldn't get an blood pressure to register.

I hauled her to the emergency room and they said her blood pressure was "54 over Dead". They couldn't believe she was sitting there talking to them.

She was in Afib and her heart was just fluttering. Let me just say she was close to not making it.

They shocked her heart back the next day, and her blood pressure and heart rate's never been better.

They let her out after 5 days after doing every test known.

The cardiologist says that many people check their blood sugar, but very few people check their blood pressure on any set schedule. And they should.

 

[audreyh1]

One use for our blood pressure monitor - if either of us feels “off” we check it. A few times DH felt strange or a bit of vertigo and seeing his BP normal calmed him down.

 

[Tom57]

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. You should notice that most doctors use an Omron BP type system but Cardiologists and older doctors use the stethoscope and sphygmomanometer system because it is more accurate and it is the system they learned with in medical school and residency.
My Cardiologist also tells me to wait for one hour after getting out of bed to take my BP for better accuracy.
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.

 

[chassis]

From Omron

 

[pacergal]

^^ Excellent.
Also, you should rest for about 5 minutes before checking.
(set everything up, rest , take BP)

 

[braumeister]

I think it's strange that my BP measurement has NEVER been taken properly at a doctor's office. The nurse hustles me into the examining room and immediately puts the cuff on my arm. The reading is always higher than I get at home, and my protests are ignored because they are just trying to get it over with.

Every single time I've mentioned this to a doctor, they just roll their eyes and say "I know, but they seem to have been trained that way." Then the doc wastes five minutes of their own time to take it properly and puts the real number in my chart.

I've been going through this routine for decades now, and can't understand it.

 

[Aerides]

I think it's strange that my BP measurement has NEVER been taken properly at a doctor's office. The nurse hustles me into the examining room and immediately puts the cuff on my arm. The reading is always higher than I get at home, and my protests are ignored because they are just trying to get it over with.

Every single time I've mentioned this to a doctor, they just roll their eyes and say "I know, but they seem to have been trained that way." Then the doc wastes five minutes of their own time to take it properly and puts the real number in my chart.

I've been going through this routine for decades now, and can't understand it.

This happened to me last year, my first visit to the cardiologist. I had taken the 3 flights of stairs up vs. the elevator, then the cuff was slapped on me quickly... and I got 137/85 or something (I'm usually 110/70). Doc says "so you have high blood pressure" and I was like no, that's just a bad read or white coat syndrome... and he was all "oh don't blame ME!" and still put that I have Hi BP in my chart.

Never going back there. Now when I go to any docs I make sure I'm relaxed, and have them do BP as the last thing to avoid that again.

 

[audreyh1]

Yes, the BP taking at the doctor’s office is a joke.

Although the last two times they let me sit for a few minutes first which always helps.

Doctor reading chart: 120/80 - wow, perfect!
me: it’s way lower than that at home, usually under 110.
Doctor: well, home readings are more accurate anyway.

 

[braumeister]

and he was all "oh don't blame ME!" and still put that I have Hi BP in my chart.

Never going back there. Now when I go to any docs I make sure I'm relaxed, and have them do BP as the last thing to avoid that again.

With all due respect to the fine physicians here on the forum (who contribute greatly to our collective knowledge), don't expect to see much relief on this.

IMHO, they put that on your chart because they could give you a pill for that. Much the same as how they can give you a pill to lower your cholesterol.

I know, multiple opinions on this stuff, but this is mine.

 

[Freedom56]

My wife checks my BP, O2 saturation, weight, pulse rate, and temperature about every 2 weeks and logs it into a spreadsheet with the date and time. We email this data to our doctors before our annual check-up.

 

[Ronstar]

What type of specialist is the Doctor who recommended home BP checking?.....

Not a specialist. Just my primary care physician. He said that my blood pressure was a little high, but nothing to worry about.

I asked maybe due to running a couple hrs earlier?

Or the fact that I was going to be late because of an accident on the interstate, and I called DW from the road to call the Dr office, and the office told her if I was more than 15 minutes late I'd have to reschedule.

I explained all of this to the dr, but he wasn't buying it. He believes that my blood pressure is fairly static. He casually suggested that I check BP at home if I wanted to track it more frequently than the yearly exams.

 

[nwsteve]

I think it's strange that my BP measurement has NEVER been taken properly at a doctor's office. The nurse hustles me into the examining room and immediately puts the cuff on my arm. The reading is always higher than I get at home, and my protests are ignored because they are just trying to get it over with.

Every single time I've mentioned this to a doctor, they just roll their eyes and say "I know, but they seem to have been trained that way." Then the doc wastes five minutes of their own time to take it properly and puts the real number in my chart.

I've been going through this routine for decades now, and can't understand it.

Your experience is identical to mine as well. I noticed on my last visit to my PCP that there were a number of posters showing graphics similar to earlier post. Nurse was quite discipline in her measurement. When automated cuff did not work to her expectations, she got the stethoscope and old school cuf out to do the measurement.
First time I have my BP checked per the guidelines.

 

[brett]

DW, a nurse, has used the OMRON unit she purchased at Costco years ago.

She says that it has proven to be very accurate when compared to the numbers at her physicians office.

 

[mistermike40]

I have an Omron with an arm cuff. Don't use it often, but glad it's here.

 

[Ronstar]

Ok - got the Omron BP5450. DW and I both installed the app and paired. I did a 150/77 (right after eating which I see is a no no), but it is consistent with Dr reading 147/76 2 days ago. DW did a 103/70. We'll see what happens tomorrow am on an empty stomach.

 

[Act2]

I have a Beurer wrist cuff and another brand of arm cuff. I have trouble using the arm cuff so I use the wrist cuff.

 

[street]

My BP has been so good since I started intermittent fasting 4 years ago. I most generally in the ideal range or normal range.

 

[audreyh1]

Intermittent Fasting and lowered BP.

How does that work?

Well, intermittent fasting allows your body to go through periods of low insulin. When insulin is low the kidneys are able to release sodium and the excess water it retained due to the sodium. Natural diuretic. Less retained water -> lower blood pressure.

 

[Hermit]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I ordered an Omron platinum (a Blow that Dough blood pressure monitor) from Amazon. It will be here today.

I've been to my new Dr. for my 2 Medicare Wellness checks. Last year BP was 142/83. This year (yesterday) 147/76. Dr. says it is a little high. My reasoning is that I went running before both appts. He doesn't think that the running would affect blood pressure 1.5 to 2 hours after running. So he recommended I start monitoring.

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.

 

[EastWest Gal]

I think it's strange that my BP measurement has NEVER been taken properly at a doctor's office. The nurse hustles me into the examining room and immediately puts the cuff on my arm. The reading is always higher than I get at home, and my protests are ignored because they are just trying to get it over with.

Every single time I've mentioned this to a doctor, they just roll their eyes and say "I know, but they seem to have been trained that way." Then the doc wastes five minutes of their own time to take it properly and puts the real number in my chart.

I've been going through this routine for decades now, and can't understand it.

+1. Except my current concierge doctor. They have you sit, relaxed for at least five minutes, make sure the arm is relaxed, and hold the arm at the correct height.

Another thing I've noted is that in hospitals, they take BPs with automatic machines, not the stethescope. I'm using a Welch Allyn, which I can do by myself, usually at least an hour after I get up. My readings are pretty close to those in the office.

 

[street]

intermediate fasting? I know you mean intermittent. Fun!

How does that work?

Well, intermittent fasting allows your body to go through periods of low insulin. When insulin is low the kidneys are able to release sodium and the excess water it retained due to the sodium. Natural diuretic. Less retained water -> lower blood pressure.

Lol!! Yes I messed up again. Thanks
I'll change it.

 

[Hermit]

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!