Hypertension Sisters? Suggestions for home BP monitoring

Anonymous

hey there if anyone in the community has any suggestions for home BP monitors that actually work, I’ll be forever grateful

I’ve resorted to using a plain old manual one after trying several electronic monitors including a supposed “really good” not inexpensive Omron model and getting questionable results

I don’t mind continuing with the manual cuff but the electronic ones are a bit easier - but only if they’re accurate!

Thanks in advanc

wrenn

I'm not sure what you mean by "electronic". I have used Omron and calibrated it with Dr. office and it was accurate. When I needed one with a larger cuff I got a Lifesource one that is also accurate.

The only ones I find unreliable are the wrist monitors.

Can you give examples of what you mean bymanual and electronic?

Anonymous

manual - the old fashioned kind that you have to pump with one hand to inflate the cuff. Usually has clock face type dial instead of an LED read out. I think the correct term is sphygmomanometer

Yes the wrist ones are terrible -but after a couple of months the other ones started giving me ridiculously low readings which I would like to believe were accurate but didn't match the sphygmomanometer readings nor what I would get at my medical appts

I know Omron will also calibrate them if you send them the machine. I no longer have my receipt for the last one I purchased. And I just gave up and went with the sphygmomanometer.

LivinLife

I use a "Reli On" brand.... upper arm vs. wrist.... It is a good idea to calibrate with your doc's office as wrenn suggested. I have had this one for years and it is really consistent for me so I go more by that. My cardiologist, many years ago, recommended taking the b.p. at different times of the day. I do this and mark work vs. non-work days too b/c my b.p. is higher on work days. I now just monitor a few times every other week bc my b.p. is pretty consistent. Initially I took it many times per week. I still write these down and a take a copy into selected docs when I meet with them. I keep my numbers on a thumb drive.

wrenn

ohhhhh those. 🤭 I guess i think of mine as manual since i forgot about the old types. Or i blocked it out since they seem too awkward to manage.

I struggle now getting mine on right arm being right handed since my left is unavailable due to lymph node removal

ceanna

I've had an Omron for years and it works well. It is close to BP at doctor's office but, like at home and in the office, my BP varies depending on activity before taking, health status, etc. A person's BP is seldom identical from time to time but needs to stay in a good "range." In once asking a nurse about my home monitor, she advised that I not tighten the cuff too tight or loose, but comfortably firm around arm before hitting the start button. Also, if cuff is too tight to fit a larger upper arm, you can put cuff on largest part of forearm, again not to tight/loose. The wrist or finger, or smartwatch type of BP readings should not be relied on.

Anonymous

Thanks ladies

Sunshine99

Olma, I use an Omron model, too. I've "calibrated' it at the doc's office a few times. When I get my BP taken at the MO's office, it's often high (because I just walked up the stairs, just sat down, just got weighed, etc.) so I will usually ask them to take it again after a minute or so. By then, it's come down to a normal level.

I'm sure you know to not cross your legs, don't talk and try to have your arm level with the monitor.

I tracked my BP on a spreadsheet for a while, but haven't had the need lately.

Good luck

Carol

wallycat

I also have an omron. My bp is through the roof at a doc's setting so they had me keep a diary for 2 weeks at various times of the day. Of course, now I'm stressing to take it at home...no idea why I'm messed up about blood pressure...in any event (this has been recent, in the last 2 weeks) my new doc said I am surprisingly in the normal range at home, so we'll keep an eye on it. I use an Omron cuff and she said that was great.

I have noticed my bp running higher post covid-vaccine and not sure if it is related or not. It's been 4 months since my second dose. Used to run 110/68-70s and now is in the 120-130s/70-80s. Sometimes a tad higher than that when I freak myself out, LOL.

Sunshine99

wallycat, I was tracking my BP for a while, too. I would make a note of what I was doing at the time, i.e., "Yelling at the dog for barking at the gardener", or "Sitting at my computer, doing deep breathing exercises". I think one time I even wrote, "On hold with the DMV for the past 40 minutes".

BlueGirlRedState

Olma - the upper arm Omron has worked well for me. The time of day, activity, food, drugs. position can all affect reading so it is important to be consistent and keep a log. You might want to take first thing in AM, then sometime later in day, and note the time when taken. If it is very different than when at the DR you might want to take it with you to next appointment and do them together. My BP has gone up slightly according to my reading, and I think it is the Exemestane/Everolimus.

Anonymous

Thanks so much for all these suggestions and input. Will start shopping around for my new monitor and bring it to my next cardiologist appt to see how well it syncs up. My readings at the cancer center have been good lately so now is a good time to break in a new BP monitor I suppose.

I used to use the Omron app on my phone that records the readings from the monitor with Bluetooth. That was when I first started cancer treatment and my onc was concerned whether or not my BP was under control between appts. Now I just like to do it once or week or so to make sure.,.although the cardiologist would like me to do it more often.

I do wear a Fitbit and that records heart rate, which is sort of an indicator of blood pressure I think ? - when mine became high on Losartan and I had to change meds, it did show up in my resting heart rate too.

Thanks again ladies : ).