How many of you follow your blood pressure?

[Bear Paw Jack]

Several months ago, I was reading another forum and several people were following their blood pressure. I went out and ordered a blood pressure machine and started tracking mine. I even ended up having medicine changes trying to get my BP down. I was getting readings like:
147/93
160/95
159/93
158/97
157/101
177/110
needless to say I've been concerned. If you are at the hospital and they get that last reading you aren't getting out. Finally went to the doctor on Thursday and they took my blood pressure and it was 129/75. Obviously that is a long shot from what my machine was reading. What kind of machine are you folks using? I should mention that I'm a big guy so the cuff doesn't fit my arm very well and one doctor said I could just put it around my wrist, so that's what I've been doing.

 

[Colonialgirl]

#1. You can order larger cuffs for some of the machines
#2. sit for a bit BEFORE taking your readings; it can make 10+ difference in the upper reading, not so much in the lower.
#3. I have what they call "Bradycardia " a so-called LOW pulse rate (I've been down to 45-46 after sitting a while) and they tell me THAT will normally cause higher upper pressure readings.

 

[Dave P.]

I track mine daily in the running season and about once a week in the winter.
Using a Omron that was their top model maybe 6-7 years ago. Upper arm
cuff type and it seems pretty close comparing to readings my wife gets
if she takes it. Took it to the Doc's office a few times when I first got
it to compare.....was pretty close.
I think plus/minus about 5 percent is "close enough" most of the time.
Maybe take it to your next appointment and cross check it there.
Dave

 

[Big Old Boy]

Another thing when taking your BP sit up straight feet flat on the floor and breath deeply it will help with an accurate reading, I know this I am on about every BP med there is and I have a pacemaker.

 

[caryc]

Another thing when taking your BP sit up straight feet flat on the floor and breath deeply it will help with an accurate reading, I know this I am on about every BP med there is and I have a pacemaker.

The trouble is that you don't spend much of your life sitting up straight with feet flat on the floor and breathing deeply. I would say you might get a lower reading that way but when I go to the doctor they also take my reading standing up and compare the two.

 

[pisgah]

Yes, the size of the cuff can affect readings pretty drastically. But also, with home-type BP machines be sure you are following the directions EXACTLY. My little Omron machine tracks perfectly with my doctor's office machine -- but ONLY if I use it precisely by the directions; otherwise, mine shows high readings.

BTW, I check my BP twice daily, because I have only one kidney left after removal of the other one due to cancer last year. BP is critical to kidney health, and I want to stretch out the mileage on this one as long as possible!

 

[SR1911SHOOTER]

I get my blood pressure and other vitals any time I go to the VA. They treat me right and
I do not have to buy self treating machines.
irregardless of what the Media and other political hacks would have us believe,
I have the highest regard for the VA. They cured my cancer on my vocal cords.
Blackie

BTW, I have no problem getting appointments!

 

[redhawker]

I've had it as high as 240/150 several years ago. They almost put me in the hospital that time. Got some great treatment from my cardiologist and yesterday, at a regular checkup with him, it was 124/62. Personally, besides the meds I think my retirement and getting into a much better financial position, where I'm not worried about whether I can make the next house payment or not, contributed to about half of the decrease.

 

[caryc]

I've had it as high as 240/150 several years ago. They almost put me in the hospital that time. Got some great treatment from my cardiologist and yesterday, at a regular checkup with him, it was 124/62. Personally, besides the meds I think my retirement and getting into a much better financial position, where I'm not worried about whether I can make the next house payment or not, contributed to about half of the decrease.

Almost put you in the hospital? In my neck of the woods, you would have been in an ambulance headed straight for the nearest emergency room. I find that really hard to believe you weren't hospitalized immediately. Someone was playing fast and loose with your life buddy.

 

[#1rugerman]

I worked as a retail pharmacist for 35 years, from what I observed wrist blood pressures were not near as accurate as ones taken on the bicep or even just below the elbow. We had a bunch of wrist monitors returned after they took them to their doctor to compare their monitors to the one at the doctors office.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I got my machine way over six years ago. Like you, I was concerned
about the accuracy, so I brought it with me the next doctors visit. I
should say here that I got mine from the pharmacy at Kaiser here in
town. My doctor was a bit nervous when I wanted to run it on one arm
while she took my pressure on the other.

The result was, at least to me, very good. Difference between what the
doctor saw and what the machine read was three points. Doctor looked
a tad nervous until I smiled and said that since both she and the machine
were shooting at a moving target I thought a three point difference to be
excellent correlation. She smiled for the next several minutes.

When I got mine, I asked the doctor if there was anything I needed to
know and she told me to, FOR SURE, get the large cuff. I worked out
with weights, every day, for well over two years. It's easy to see.

I've also found that when taking a reading, to not take just one. The first
will virtually always be higher and that I can have from ten to twenty
points between them. On rare occasions it has run closer to thirty.

I also sit in my recliner for five or more minutes before taking the first
reading. I then wait at least five minutes more before doing the second.
Normal third reading for me is about 124/75. Doctor seems happy with
that, and, knowing nothing more than what I've read, I am to.
10mg LISINOPRIL daily. I read somewhere that taking it just before
going to bed has a positive effect.

 

[welder]

My wife is an RN and my wrist unit compares closely with her readings most of the time. I take two pills a day, one morning, one evening to maintain decent numbers as my employment (and health) depends on a yearly physical with good numbers. If my numbers got out of line too much I would not trust the wrist monitor completely but as long as they are decent and reasonably comparable with the wife's I don't worry too much, realizing it's not a perfect machine, but pretty convenient.

 

[coach]

Pisgah mentioned Omron and that's what I have and it's generally the same as the doctor. For some reason my wife has trouble with it but at least it lets her know there's an error in the reading.

 

[bigfuzzy]

I have an Omron that checks it 3 times back to back and then gives you an average. had problems with the older 1 that I had, also an Omron that was under warranty, I called them about it & they sent me a new cuff. they told me that cuffs do wear out. doctor also told me that early in the morning, shortly after you get up is the worst time to check.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Once a day with a machine like #1 here. http://www.tlbox.com/power-hand-tools/5-best-blood-pressure-monitors-ideal-for-home-use/ battery operated, works well, batteries last a long time.

My blood pressure and heart rate are good now, after a cryo-ablation for Afib.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

A few people have mentioned OMRON and that's the one I got a HEM FL-31, I got it because it said it was the large cuff, 17-19" But dadgum, when the thing pumps up, nearly cuts my arm in half. That's why I use it on the wrist. Nobody seemed concerned with the numbers I've had and the doctor didn't say much so maybe it's not a big deal. I think I will take it in next time I go see him.

 

[hittman]

I take BP mess and never check mine. Meet with my doctor every April and October for a review. Doctor told me some patients obsess too much about getting a perfect number and wind up stressing themselves out and making things worse.

Optometrist found my BP problem about 12 years ago. It was 205 over 170 and doctor made me lay down with some sort of pill under my tongue if I remember correctly. Anyway, I didn't realize how sluggish I felt at the time until the BP was controlled to a more normal level.

Ignorance is bliss cause at that time I had no clue what a "normal" reading was. Shoulda been scared.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I get my blood pressure and other vitals any time I go to the VA. They treat me right and
I do not have to buy self treating machines.
irregardless of what the Media and other political hacks would have us believe,
I have the highest regard for the VA. They cured my cancer on my vocal cords.
Blackie

BTW, I have no problem getting appointments!

If you check with your Primary Care, They MIGHT issue you a BP machine; That's where I got mine.

 

[BIGBISLEY]

In my opinion tracking blood pressure is a waste of time, most will continue to retest until they get the desired result and then record the fantasy number. If ones bp is under control it makes no difference how often or what procedure the test is done the result will be the same.
If ones bp is not in control your dr. will request you come in once a week at the same time, have you sit for at least 10 minutes, do a check, discuss it with you, and check it again before you leave. At this time an adjustment to meds will be made and you return week after week until bp is in spec for your age and weight.
Another problem equally harmful as the fantasy home test is being dishonest with ones self and dr. I'm speaking from personal experience here as my mother had a stroke 4 years ago and her bp is still way off the charts. Her and my father will diet, excercise, and fast before before dr. visits and make excuses to cover for bp that is out of spec. This is not healthy.
I also have experience from another side of this, I started having high bp tests at dr visits at the age of 20. These were dismissed because I only went to the dr when I was injured or sick and would naturally have elevated bp. Finally 7 years later after having chronic headaches all through my 20s the process of finding the right combination of meds was found after several months of weekly visits and several months of monthly visits.
When everything with your meds is squared away you will no longer have to be dishonest with your dr or yourself. You can have a sausage biscuit with gravy before your dr visit and everything will be normal every time.
I'm 44 years old now and the only high bp I've had recorded since on meds at 27 was after having a dislocated shoulder. I'm not particularly unhealthy at 5'8 198lbs, my bp was 155 over 105 at 178lbs at age 23, I'll never see 178 again. My dr says and I believe I would be dead without medication. I would be like your uncle or grandpa who was healthy as a horse and was never sick who died in his 40s.
Please get help, be honest with yourself, and follow through with dr recommend treatments. Someone will be blessed to have you around longer.

William

 

[SAJohn]

I am a firm believer in exercise and maintaining low body fat. Those extra pounds most folks gain through the years are a significant factor in increasing blood pressure. Most blood pressure pills, especially the older ones, contribute to weight gain.