How accurate are home blood pressure monitors?
I bought a manual inflate arm cuff blood pressure monitor that gives out a digital reading. The pharmacist recommended it over the auto inflate b/c it was half the price and he said that would be the only difference. The reason i purchased one is b/c i’m pregnant and my BP has been in the 140’s over 80’s at my docs office lately. When i take my BP at home with this monitor, it’s been in the 120’s over 70’s. It’s made by HoMedics. Thanks!
The best way to be sure — is to take your home meter with you on your next doctor visit and do a side-by-side comparison: his (or her) professional reading, and your home reading.
If the two readings are close to the same then your home meter is accurate; if they are not close, then your home meter is not accurate.
November 12 2009 12:05 pm | home blood pressure monitors
November 12th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
The best way to be sure — is to take your home meter with you on your next doctor visit and do a side-by-side comparison: his (or her) professional reading, and your home reading.
If the two readings are close to the same then your home meter is accurate; if they are not close, then your home meter is not accurate.
References :
November 12th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
this is what we do.next time you see your doctor or midwife take along you bp machine too,then compare readings at the same time,you probably have white coat syndrome,as soon as you see a doctor or nurse your bp goes up, it isn’t high anyway
References :
nurse
November 12th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I’m a firefighter/EMT-B and the only thing i can tell you is that you pay for what you get. i don’t trust them that much but like the other guy said, take it in on your next appointment and see how accurate it is
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November 12th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
As the previous respondant mentioned, you can test the accuracy of your machine by bringing it and comparing results with your doctor’s results.
Having said that, i think that your machine is accurate and the difference in results is due to the fact that your doctor’s results are results that are obtained directly after excercise, and also that the stress factor of a doctor’s visit need to be factored in.
I too have a bp machine at home and the results are always lower at home then when I see the doctor.
Blood pressure fluctuates during the day depending on activity and stress. In your case both sets of results obtained are satisfactory and don’t require medical attention, so it doesn’t really matter which set is actually correct.
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November 12th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
The comparison test as previously mentioned is a good way for you to assess the accuracy of your home monitor.
Another thing to be sure of is to take your BP readings under the proper conditions. This page http://www.smart-heart-living.com/high-blood-pressure.html describes how to take your readings.
Good luck!
References :
http://www.smart-heart-living.com