If you have a certain medical condition or if you have reached a certain age, you may be thinking of monitoring your blood pressure at home yourself. Yes, you can always go to the medical doctor to get it done, but that costs time (and in some countries, money) which you may not have. So, what about monitoring your blood pressure at home?
How accurate are blood pressure monitors for home use? The fact is that contemporary monitors are very accurate, yet you ought to still continue regular visits to your medical doctor, who will verify the findings of your home monitor.
If your GP has determined that you have high blood pressure (hypertension), he or she will probably recommend lifestyle alterations or / and medication. It is very problematic to institute lifestyle changes, so if you do, monitoring your hypertension at home and seeing changes can be very satisfying, but it can also work the other way around if the alterations do not seem to be having any effect.
While you are deciding which home blood pressure monitor to buy, there are two fundamental alternatives: the aneroid and digital monitors. The digital monitors have either an automatic or a hand-pumpable cuff.
The other kinds are finger or wrist monitors, yet these ought to be avoided as they give pretty erratic or inaccurate readings and they are a lot dearer too. If you do purchase one of these monitors, take it with you to your doctor's and check its performance against a sphygmomanometer, which is considered the gold standard of blood pressure monitors.
So, let us take for granted, that you buy a proper monitor with a cuff, the first thing to do to make certain maximum accuracy is to get a cuff that fits you properly. This is not usually a problem, but if you are big or small, the instruments within the cuff may not be able to give an accurate reading.
If you want an accurate reading, you ought to wait at least 45 minutes after drinking caffeine before taking a reading. In fact, you should sit quietly for at least ten minutes, before taking any reading. Other precautions are to go to the bathroom first, not to have smoked or to have taken any alcohol recently. Furthermore, strap the cuff at least an inch above the crease of your elbow.
You will be hoping for a reading below 120/80 which is considered 'normal'. Readings between normal and 140/90 point toward prehypertension and mean that you need to take some action to escape entering 'Stage One Hypertension', which is anything more than this reading.
Contemporary home digital monitors over a particular price are extremely accurate. The digital home monitor that I use cost $100 four years ago, so it should be cheaper now. It was tested against a sphygmomanometer (the sort doctors use) and it was always within the limits of accuracy given by the American National Standard for Electronic or Automated Sphygmomanometers. Look for that guarantee, if you purchase a home monitor.
How accurate are blood pressure monitors for home use? The fact is that contemporary monitors are very accurate, yet you ought to still continue regular visits to your medical doctor, who will verify the findings of your home monitor.
If your GP has determined that you have high blood pressure (hypertension), he or she will probably recommend lifestyle alterations or / and medication. It is very problematic to institute lifestyle changes, so if you do, monitoring your hypertension at home and seeing changes can be very satisfying, but it can also work the other way around if the alterations do not seem to be having any effect.
While you are deciding which home blood pressure monitor to buy, there are two fundamental alternatives: the aneroid and digital monitors. The digital monitors have either an automatic or a hand-pumpable cuff.
The other kinds are finger or wrist monitors, yet these ought to be avoided as they give pretty erratic or inaccurate readings and they are a lot dearer too. If you do purchase one of these monitors, take it with you to your doctor's and check its performance against a sphygmomanometer, which is considered the gold standard of blood pressure monitors.
So, let us take for granted, that you buy a proper monitor with a cuff, the first thing to do to make certain maximum accuracy is to get a cuff that fits you properly. This is not usually a problem, but if you are big or small, the instruments within the cuff may not be able to give an accurate reading.
If you want an accurate reading, you ought to wait at least 45 minutes after drinking caffeine before taking a reading. In fact, you should sit quietly for at least ten minutes, before taking any reading. Other precautions are to go to the bathroom first, not to have smoked or to have taken any alcohol recently. Furthermore, strap the cuff at least an inch above the crease of your elbow.
You will be hoping for a reading below 120/80 which is considered 'normal'. Readings between normal and 140/90 point toward prehypertension and mean that you need to take some action to escape entering 'Stage One Hypertension', which is anything more than this reading.
Contemporary home digital monitors over a particular price are extremely accurate. The digital home monitor that I use cost $100 four years ago, so it should be cheaper now. It was tested against a sphygmomanometer (the sort doctors use) and it was always within the limits of accuracy given by the American National Standard for Electronic or Automated Sphygmomanometers. Look for that guarantee, if you purchase a home monitor.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on a number of subjects, but is currently involved with work on how to read blood pressure. If you want to know more or check out some great offers, just go to our site at High Blood Pressure Recipes.