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Sphygmomanometer advice please.

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  My husband has high blood pressure issues, and we have been advised to get a machine to use at home to try and avoid white coat syndrome.
  
  We bought a digital machine that you wrap around the arm, (having read that they are more reliable than wrist/cuff ones) but it really was a hit and miss business and we took it back.
  
  When we take his BP in the surgery (or the doctor does) it can vary when re-taken, but not like the machine we bought!
  
  I wonder if any of you have advice for us, or can recommend the make/model of machine you have.
  
  He previously had to wear a gizmo for 24 hours or so which read his BP automatically, and that is not what I am needing advice on.
  
  Thanks
  
  Westie

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by sweet-rocket (U11357111) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  There was a short thread about this recently - I was keeping an eye on it because I've been advised to do the same thing as your husband. The 24 hour test showed I didn't have high BP, but I do tend to have it when I see a doctor!
  
  
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Dapply (U2437462) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:04 GMT, in reply to sweet-rocket in message 2
  
  Mr Dapply had a wrist type one for his BP and the doctor reckoned it was more accurate than the one he used in his surgery.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by laReine-Astrid (U10636638) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  My OH was recommended to use one of these, and we bought a Spengler. Our GP told us that the wrist-based systems were no good at all (but I have a friend who uses one on a permanent basis - don't know the make).
  
  Ours seems very accurate. I've also used it, and it gave accurate readings. Something you can do is to use it on both arms to see what the readings are.
  
  A good one is pretty expensive, but well worth it. Blood pressure is such a good indicator of basic health, and to get a real idea of what's happening, you need to have readings every day over a period of time.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  Thanks everyone ... and especially Sweet Rocket for that link ... we just got back from a holiday last night and I hadn't seen it.
  
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Small Town Girl (U1483784) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  We bought a wrist thingy and, you're right, they're not much cop, but then my OH - he of the high blood pressure - asked our GP to recommend a model, which she did. It was £15-£20 from either Wilsons or Lloyds Parmacy.
  
  Can't exactly remember what make it was (not particularly useful here then) but - and I am getting to the point - the GP recommended that he take the contraption with him to the surgery next time he went so that they could put his on one arm and hers on the other and take his BP with both at the same time. That way, they'd know whether our home meter was reading high or low compared with the GPs, which is the one that counts.
  
  I hope this rather garbled message makes some sort of sense.
  
  Having typed all this, I've just asked OH about it and he said that after he'd bought the one she recommended, she changed her mind and recommended another one that was much more expensive, but as we'd already got two by this time, we decided against a third!
  
  STG
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  STG, thanks very much. You have confirmed the sense in what we have decided .... we are going to buy a Boots own brand one which is apparently another make under their own brand name, and then go round to our surgery and do as you suggest ... test it against the surgery one.
  
  We gather that usually it is sensible to take BP at the same time each day so we are going to use it each morning for the next week or so until OH has another appointment with the doc.
  
  A very expensive machine we researched takes 5 BP readings at several minute intervals, chucks out the first one and gives you the average of the remaining 4. But, we don't really want to spend £400 on a machine!
  
  
  
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Vicky S (U2258400) on Sunday, 16th August 2009

  Westie, I bought the Boots one last week and can confirm that it is the more expensive Omron one in boots clothing. Can I recommend that you measure your OHs upper arm before you go. The band they provide is suitable for up to 32 cm but they say that they will exchange it for free for a larger band on request. Might as well do it while you are there!

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Sad Border Collie (U2036041) on Monday, 17th August 2009

  Westie, I used to use a wrist one just to monitor my bp (worried well at that time And it was quite interesting to see the results over time. Usually took it early evening as mornings bp is ofter higher I think. Interesting was that you could rally see trends, holidays often (not always) gave lower results etc.
  I wonder if the accuracy is all that important when any one measure is just a snap shot (if you are using it as a long term monitor I mean). For me it was the trend I wanted to watch.
  I had an arm one later and another wrist one but they didn't work at all well so I think the devices can be a bit hit and miss.
  QBC

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Monday, 17th August 2009

  Thanks :0)

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Lemon Sabotage (U9577550) on Monday, 17th August 2009

  Quick word of advice here...A cuff that is too large can also give false readings. Someone with very thin arms (not me, sadly!) needs a small-size cuff.

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Monday, 17th August 2009

  Thanks Lemon ... the one we intend to get can be supplied with different sized cuffs, so we'll take advice on that. OH is a slim 6 footer, so hopefully
  it shouldn't be a problem.
  
  

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