Do you measure your own blood pressure?

[RonJ]

I went to my cardiologist today and he was a little bit concerned because I had an elevated heart rate. He wants me to take randomly timed blood pressure readings over the next two weeks and send him the results.
I haven't heard much good about home blood pressure kits.
I'm talking about the digital ones that don't require a stethoscope. Any comments or recommendations?

[irishjig]

Well having to do the same, i use the ReliOn HEM-741CREL has been working fine, and pretty close to the Doc,s numbers, and using a log, it does help to come up with an avg.........

[G.T. Smith]

My wife has one of the cheaper models called a ReliOnHEM-741CRELN2. It seems to work alright. It runs on batteries or an adapter that plugs into the wall outlet. Sometimes my BP is high and my heart rate is slow, then sometimes it's the other way around. It records your results and the date taken for about 30 readings before it starts deleting the oldest results.
I think she bought it at wal-mart.
Hope this helps you,
Gordon PS:
I posted this then went back in to fix my spelling and noticed that irishjig had posted about the same one. It's made in Vietnam and those folks ought to know about rapid heart rates for sure!

[Stevens]

I have a ReliOn I bought probably 4 years ago, easy to use, and the readings seem in line with those at the drs. office.
From WMT CVS or Walgreens.
Put on the cuff, press a button the cuff inflates, deflates and gives you the high, low and your pulse. It has a memory function which I don't use much.
Last week my dr switched my PB medicine, he told me to take readings to keep an eye on it till my next visit.
Steve W.

[Steve in Vermont]

Omron makes several models of portable BP devices. The one we have is the Womans Advanced Model with 2 cuffs (Elite#7300W). Most major drug stores carry them and you can expect to pay around $ 60.00. Buy one that keeps a record of pressure and time/date for future reference. Most also record your pulse rate and are battery operated.

[HOUSTON RICK]

The new ones work fine.

[bobelk99]

Been using an Omron Model HEM-711 for years.

Accurate and consistent.

I have it checked yearly, and it always checks out as accurate.

[MK]

I use one that came from Eckerd drug stores.. But I
think it's a Omron with the Eckerd name.. It's a HEM 432.
Seems to do OK, but you want to be consistent in how you
use it. IE: arm cuff placement,etc.. you want the tube that comes
out of the cuff right over that vein you will see when you put the
cuff on. And rest your arm on a table or whatever the same way
every time you do it. You want to try to get consistent readings.
Which mine seems to do, being as I do it the same way every time.
I've also got one of the old type with a gauge, etc.. But I've never
actually used it much.. It's more of a hassle to use, even if it might
be potentially more accurate.

[oldman45]

I bought an automatic cuff from WalMart and it works very well.

My daughter brought her scope in after I got it and compared her readings of my pressure against the machine. They were very close.

I cannot take my own. Tried and it did not work.. The daughter says taking your own BP will not give an accurate reading since you are supposed to be at rest when it is taken. Moving about, pumping up a cuff and listening to a stethoscope requires activity.

[sar4937]

Some of our local drug chains have in-store machines. Now, if I could only keep calm during my visits.

[RonJ]

Originally Posted by MOONDAWG

QUOTE: "Do you take your own blood pressure?"


Yes.

Common speak from a poorly educated man. My apologies.

[DeadAye]

Whatever model you buy - Take it with you whenever you go to the doctor and compare the readings with the *pro* stuff.

[rburg]

Originally Posted by DeadAye

Whatever model you buy - Take it with you whenever you go to the doctor and compare the readings with the *pro* stuff.

The best advice so far! And a hint: don't cross your legs while taking yours.

I've got a little wrist cuff that I've gained a lot of confidence in. It just wraps around your wrist and you push the green button. Its off the the races! It pumps itself up, deflates as it works, then lets all the air out. Takes maybe 45 seconds.

So when the nurse at the doctors office sits you down and wraps the arm cuff around one arm, wrap yours around the wrist. If it distracts her, wait till she's done, but don't get up, just take your reading right after. Its pretty interesting how close it is.

Then hand your cuff to your doctor. They see them all the time and he can see your reading just by paging back through them. They do the same thing with blood glucose, too. It allows you to self test over a period of time. It also tells him if your BP meds are adequate, or maybe too weak or strong.