Blood pressure cuffs and machines

[FlaGranny]

I wanted to post this to madookie who is worried about his/her blood pressure, but the thread is locked.

I recently had purchased a digital blood pressure machine to use to keep track of my BP and the first time I took my pressure with it - all was okay. The next time I took it was right after some bad news and my BP was sky high. So I started taking my BP more frequently. It stayed high. Come to find out, it was a BAD MACHINE. My BP was actually under good control. Also, keep in mind that the cuff must fit your arm - if you have a large arm you must use the large size cuff, and you must not use the large cuff on a very small arm.

I just wanted ya'll to know that bad machines, especially the digital ones, are possible. If a machine gives you very high, very low, or erratic readings - it could be the machine and not you.

That said, high blood pressure is nothing to mess with and erratic readings should be checked out by your doctor and a different monitoring device.

[medeak]

1. I used to sell digital sphygnometers and you are correct

they are terrible and each one I sold I would check with manual unit to make certain it was calibrated. (90% were incorrect)

[FlaGranny]

5. I've always wondered if

there is a way to absolutely make sure a digital is accurate. Even if you take your blood pressure with only a manual cuff, it can vary 5 or 10 points in a few minutes, so even comparing the two different types wouldn't be 100% accurate. The most accurate of all is a mercury standing unit - the kind that most doctors' offices and hospitals have, but even those give you different readings because your BP never stays the same.

:-)

[Warpy]

12. My pop had the right idea

and he had malignant hypertenion since his early 40s. He'd use public cuffs at big box stores and drug stores and just average what he got. He never owned his own cuff.

He'd get high readings until I told him to sit in the seat for 5-10 minutes before he inflated the thing a second time to get his resting rate. Since nobody would tell a frail old man to move it so they could have a turn, it worked out quite well.

There are a lot of things that affect readings, and calibration is only one. The cuff size for a typical home machine also has to be right since we're not all the same size. Circulation problems can give different readings on different arms, and sometimes a thigh cuff needs to be used for accuracy.

My pop made it to 89 and he was on relatively few meds for his blood pressure. He went to his doc armed with a diary of his readings around town, so that a high reading once in a while wouldn't be a reason to increase his meds.

If you own your own cuff, that's great. Keep a diary. However, adding readings from other cuffs should be part of the regimen, and public cuffs are a good idea.

[FlaGranny]

13. My husband does the "every cuff in town" thing too.

Nearly every time he sees one he will go take his BP. And I do think that's a good idea.

[napi21]

2. My husband has used an Omeron for 2 1/2 yrs.

It's model HEM-637, and is the wrist cuff. He has to have tests every 3 months and always takes his cuff with him to check it with the professional results at the Dr. office. So far, it's been extremely accurate, and the Dr. verified that.

There are many different cuffs available on the market, and prices vary a lot. I know his Dr. recommended the Omeron, and although it was pricy, we've always been happy with it. All he's had to do was replace the battery once.

[Forrest Greene]

7. I Have An Omron HEM-780

...which I've checked against my doctor's blood pressure device. There was a slight difference, which the doctor said was perfectly natural & well within performance limits. Blood pressure can change quite a bit over a short period of time, so the booklet that came with the Omron suggests taking three readings, each three minutes apart, then averaging them. Also, as someone else mentioned, proper fit & positioning of the cuff is important. Wishing you good health!

[CountAllVotes]

3. you are right

The doctor made this mistake. He put me on high blood pressure medication and I almost went into shock and DIED.

I do not have high blood pressure.

I use one of those wrist type of blood pressure monitors. It is far more accurate than the cuff ones. They put in on and jack it up so high it hurts my arm and then my b/p goes up. duh.

[FlaGranny]

4. I just went through the BP med thing too.

After being on the drug my pulse went down to 39. I felt very tired, sleepy, and totally unmotivated to do anything. My normal pulse is around 60, but when I go to the doctor it is always in the 80's, so I guess he figured lowering my pulse 20 points would be okay. Luckily I didn't pass out or get dizzy, but I figured if it went any lower I'd wind up in the hospital.

The machine that gave me bad readings was a CVS brand wrist sphygmomanometer (that's the last time I use that word - too long and too hard to spell). I had an Omron for years, but it lost its ability to hold pressure so I got the new one. After the bad wrist machine, I went back to Omron upper arm model. I really don't know if one model is any more accurate than the rest. I have a feeling that it's not the model, but probably a faulty "something or other."

[CountAllVotes]

8. that is really scary isn't it?

I really do not like doctors. They frighten me and then my b/p goes up on the spot.

Many tend to be very condecending, etc. And they wonder why you get mad when they almost kill you?

[liberalnurse]

6. I agree..... At my clinic.....

A few medication nurses had purchase the cheapies on their own because they thought it was faster and easier ....( compared to the $2,000 or more unit used in the hospital which you see the PCT's pushing around on a wheeled pole).....

The pressures on the cheapies were not consistent....I ordered them to all take a manual pulse and BP as I did not want them medicating people with false readings. They were pisst at me....
:banghead:

[madokie]

9. Thank you FlaGranny for the concern it is much appreciated.

I have a reli-on brand digital blood pressure monitor model number 412crel. I will take it to the docs office my next visit to make sure it is reading right. I did that when it was new but I will do again just to be sure. Like you say high blood pressure is nothing to be taking chances with. My problem is the big swing from real high to real low. When the bottom number is in the 40's and 50's I really feel like crap.

I just found out resently that I am going to be a grand dad on or around the first of april. My b-day is mar. 28 so maybe I'll get lucky and first my grand child will be born on my birthday, not that it really matters though.

[FlaGranny]

10. Lots of luck to you because

blood pressures that are erratic like that can be hard to control. You might ask your doctor if he has considered pheochromocytoma, which can cause blood pressure to be erratic.

Congratulations on your new grandbaby to be. Our last grandson was born 2 days before his granddaddy's birthday.

And good luck with your blood pressure.

[madokie]

14. Thank you,

I have made a note of that and will ask my doc. I looked it up and I don't have the other symptoms

[Sgent]

11. Mercury BP monitors are not 2K

a good wall / IV pole mounted mercury BP cuff can be had for $200-$350 depending on the model and additional accessories.

The Welch-Allyn / Braun medical spygs (permanently mounted dial, abt $120) are also fairly accurate if calibrated 2x a year as required by JACHO.

The only things that are 2k are the vital sign monitors usually used in an ER/ICU/surgical suite -- but those are overkill for BP monitoring only -- and a mercury spig will be more accurate.

The disadvantage of mercury is the the hazardous material issues -- but they are still the gold standard.