Why should I monitor my blood pressure all the time?

Many individuals have high blood pressure in our society. The majority of individuals only get their blood pressure measured when they visit their physician, which may average about 1-3 times a year. Most of these individuals take several medications to help control the blood pressure but have little idea what the blood pressure is like on a daily basis. High blood pressure is a silent disease and there are generally no symptoms. When high blood pressure is not adequately treated, serious complications can occur.

Measuring blood pressure at home has many advantages including making an early diagnosis. Individuals who have had a diagnosis of borderline hypertension,  diabetes or kidney problems are always at risk for developing full blown hypertension in the future. Routinely measuring blood pressure can help one make the diagnosis much earlier.

What should I do if I have no access to a blood pressure device at home?

Individuals who routinely rely on outdoor devices for blood pressure monitoring should always write down the number and compare it with the number obtained in the physicians’ office. If there is a difference of more than 10 mmHg, then the outside machines are useless. For machines to be valid, the difference in blood pressure must be less than 5 mmHg.

Many studies have indicated that automated blood pressure devices in the malls do not meet the criteria in terms of accuracy or reliability of measurements. Those individuals who have high blood pressure should get their measurements done at a health clinic or an outpatient medical facility.

I want to buy a Blood pressure measuring device, is there anything I should know?

Measuring blood pressure with a small sized cuff in a large individual always gives erroneously low readings. To ensure that you are getting a reliable reading, the inflatable portion of the cuff should cover more than ¾ of the upper arm.

Today, there are a wide variety of blood pressure monitors available for home use. 

All blood pressure monitors are available without a physicians’ prescription. However before you buy a blood pressure device, it is essential to buy the right device and develop the proper technique of measuring blood pressure. Speak to your doctor and get him/her to teach you how to measure blood pressure the right way.

Are Blood Pressure Measurement Devices in Malls and Pharmacies reliable?

Besides doctor’s office, blood pressure machines are often found in malls, pharmacies and health food stores. Even though these machines are for free usage, they are simply not maintained, calibrated and have cuffs of only one size. Right off the bat, these devices are useless for measuring blood pressure in children (or those individuals with a small body size) and large or overweight individuals.

The manufacturers of these outdoor automated blood pressure devices install them all over the place and rarely come back to service them. In some cases, parts are missing or the cuffs are ripped. So to summarize- these devices suck.