B/P Monitors

[Stephen in SOKY]

I need a home blood pressure monitor & find them ranging in price fron $40 to over $200. Does anyone have a favorite that as been accurate when compared to finding in a physician's office? Thanks.

[Ray]

NO, however I can say the new wrist ones are more easy to use with older folks, and perhaps on yourself?

[Stephen in SOKY]

Thanks Ray, I'll check those out. My research so far indicates Omron makes a good unit. I have no need for computer interfaces so my price range has dropped into the $40-100 range.

[mekasmom]

We have an Omron. I don't think it is as reliable as a human with a cuff, but it works as well as one of those machines at the hospital do. I think humans are more reliable than any machine though.

[davidj]

For what it's worth, I was considering a wrist unit and spoke with the pharmacists of the place that sold them. They both said that "healthcare professionals" do not use them because they are not very accurate.

[Stephen in SOKY]

It does seem the wrist models, while convenient, are not very well thought of among healthcare professionals. It appears that all current series (3 through 10) of the Omrons use the same system for detection of B/P. The difference lies in the bells and whistles: how many readings they store, # of users, computer interfaces, etc. I'll be shopping for a 3 or 5 series tomorrow and if anyone is interested I'll report back after my next cardiologist visit on the 9th when I plan to have them confirm the units accuracy.

[backachersfarm]

I agree with the wrist moniters. My dad has one. He would move it around just a little to receive an outrageous bp result...just to get one of my sisters going. It is too easy to alter the results. What you might do is take whatever you do get with you to Dr. or where ever you have your bp monitered and ck what you measure to compare results with whatever professional has gotten.

[akane]

You want a semi automatic cuff not a wrist monitor. The semi automatic cuffs are much cheaper than ones that are completely automatic. You inflate the cuff yourself but a box connected to the cuff reads the bp instead of counting out the pulse like nurses will. You do have to inflate to a certain range and make sure of a few details that you wouldn't for a completely automatic unit that self inflates but it will cost half as much. I can't remember what brand mine is but aside from the occasional odd reading when I put it on wrong or don't inflate it right it works pretty well.

[Rita]

We have a wrist Omron and a regular cuff Omron that pumps up automatically and does a read out and we have compared both and they are both very accurate.

[Stephen in SOKY]

I went with an Omron 5 series at $55. My cardiologist appt. was moved to the 16th so I can't verify accuracy until then, but will report back. It's quite easy to use and so far I like it. I'm actually an old paramedic but was always taught we couldn't accurately take or own BP although I'm tempted to get my cuff and master cardiologist out and try it.

[Nevada]

Originally Posted by backachersfarm

I agree with the wrist moniters. My dad has one. He would move it around just a little to receive an outrageous bp result...just to get one of my sisters going. It is too easy to alter the results. What you might do is take whatever you do get with you to Dr. or where ever you have your bp monitered and ck what you measure to compare results with whatever professional has gotten.

The wrist BP monitors are sensitive to position. It is critical to maintain the wrist being measured at the same elevation as the heart. If it's above or below the heart readings can be way off. But if you maintain proper elevation you'll get accurate reproducible results.

The advantages of the wrist units are that they are completely automated, simple for one person to use on himself without help, and inexpensive. You can find them in the $15 to $20 range at eBay, and even less (more like $11) if you are willing to wait for it to arrive from the orient.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Digital-Wrist-Bl...-/220568283249

[Stephen in SOKY]

Update: The Omron 5 series (Conventional arm cuff, fully automatic) was within 1 mmHg of the professional automatic cuff at my cardiologists office. His manual readings were within 2 mmHg of my little cuff as well. FWIW I picked it up at Walmart for $55.