Forum Topic

Blood Pressure Monitor

My doctor has been emailing and texting with increasing urgency to say I need my blood pressure checking immediately.  I asked them why and whether they knew something I didn't :) but it just seems that if you haven't had it checked for over five years they want you to have it done.They said rather than go into the surgery I could buy a blood pressure monitor and do it at home.   I had a look online and there is such an enormous range of makes, prices and features I felt quite daunted.  I want something accurate and easy to use, not too many bells and whistles although I did read that some give three readings at a time to improve accuracy so that sounds like a useful feature.  I wonder if anyone has been through the sane thing, what make and version they chose in the end and whether they think it is accurate and are happy with it?

Claire Moran ● 1928d35 Comments

Insist that they see you face to face.  I've never heard such rubbish.A half decent BP monitor is quite expensive.  The cheaper ones don't work very well.  That's why doctors don't use them !

Derek Hill ● 1928d

We purchased a BP monitor of our own volition.

Very happy with it and think it is a useful way to keep on top of our BP without any white-coat effect. We selected an Omron model. 

Angela Knight ● 1928d

My GP suggested one I could buy at Churchills an Omron.I have idiotic levels of white coat syndrome so being able to use it at home was really helpful.And yes it is accurate, I cross checked .

Tessa Russell ● 1928d

Me too.  The Omron Basic @ under £30.  It seems to work fine and the nurse at my GP’s said that she had bought one like this for her father in law and that there is no point in paying more.

Alastair Banton ● 1928d

My doctor thinks blood pressure WRIST monitors are not reliable.I'm not sure what she thinks about any other sort.

Les Fletcher ● 1928d

My GP said that the basic Omron blood pressure monitor (I bought the easy-to-use M2 model, about £25, widely available) was perfectly good enough for home-monitoring use. I've been wholly happy with it - when I do use it (every year or so, just to check), I take 3 readings over a period of 15 minutes or so, morning and late afternoon. My GP added that readings taken at home, and averaged out over - say - a week, tended to be more meaningful (and generally lower) than those taken in the more stressful surroundings of a surgery.

Christopher Woodley ● 1928d

Get one that wraps around the upper arm. I have an Omron one. The three readings one is useful. I have mine set to 30 second intervals.

David McLoughlin ● 1928d

I bought mine from the British Heart Foundation.

Philippa Bond ● 1928d

Thanks all, it sounds as if the Omron M2 is the one to go for.

Claire Moran ● 1927d

Good choice but do beware.  They can explode if exposed to unusually high blood pressure ;-)

Alastair Banton ● 1927d

Don't worry, I will be careful not to look at the Forum before taking it!  That said, although there are still some idiots on here, several of the truly dreadful trolls have disappeared, at least for now - the pompous ex-journo (apparently) who thought the Forum hung on his every spiteful world, the ditzy person who professed that tough love - actually not love at all - was the best way to treat animals and children and who worshipped Donald Trump, and one who now seems too preoccupied with life in Devon to do much more than occasionally post on here, so all good.  Of course there are still the aggressive pro-cycling obsessed bores but they are a laughing stock now, and the occasional long term chip-on-the-shoulder person who accuses everyone of being racist, then those who post rarely but nastily - less common now, though.What has happened to Chris Vessey?  One of the last remaining idiots, most of the others seem to have been banned for one reason or another - perhaps he(or she) has too.So blood pressure much reduced as W4.com  weeds out the truly awful!

Claire Moran ● 1926d

Simple, Boots sell them. When you phone my doctor you give in your blood pressure reading and they add it to your records. Also you may like to buy a PULSE/OXYMONITOR. It clips on your finger, I saw it used in hospital and thought it must be exspensive. Well even Argos have them but Boots of course do.

Nicholas Beard ● 1926d

I have a wrist monitor which was recommended to me by a heart specialist.  The arm machines do not work on me because of the shape of my arm which she said was common with people who have over developed biceps.  It cost £15.99 and is great for a regular once a week check and has proved very accurate for the last 12 months where as before the surgery had to come out and often fail to get any reading at all.  It has made a huge difference to me as I have atrial Fibrillation and checking my blood pressure regularly reassures me my AF is in control.

Caroline Carney ● 1926d

Mine's a Medisana, wrist one. Very pleased with it.

Juliet Hogg ● 1925d

Why bother your Doctor when you can do it yourself?

Juliet Hogg ● 1925d

Mine is a Medisana wrist one. About £20. It's fine.

Juliet Hogg ● 1925d

Mine is an Omron

Philippa Bond ● 1924d

Oh , the irony.

Stewart Jones ● 1922d

I am here Claire, have you missed me ?

Chris Robert Vessey ● 1921d

Claire, you appear not to have a kind word for anyone. The conclusion may be you are not a happy person.

Christopher Robert Vessey ● 1919d

How many names do you use on here Mr Vessey ? Think it's now 3, wonder why that is ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1918d

I wonder why you care.

Stewart Jones ● 1918d

SJ      Indeed !

Christopher Robert Vessey ● 1918d

Ah true to form, deflection rather than answering a straightforward question, says it all 😉

Loraine Pemberton ● 1918d

Best choose a BP monitor verified by the British Hypertension Society that you can use at home and avoid white coat syndrome at your GP surgery

Peter Gardiner ● 1918d

Lorraine, I'm sure I recognise your name. Are you/were you once an estate agent, by any chance?

Jorge Enrique ● 1918d

I am a Professor of Medicine with controlled hypertension. A few years ago because I had severe white coat syndrome, my GP and I agreed that I would do checks at home using Omron kit; this has worked well for ten years. I encourage you to continue along those lines' Michael Preece

Mike Preece ● 1917d

The OP would do her blood pressure a lot of good by not ranting late at night and making vile accusations against individuals.

Stewart Jones ● 1917d

Stewart,Oh the irony  you think you're blameless, not to mention your persistent rubbing salt into wounds!

Loraine Pemberton ● 1917d

She called me a hater of Jews. Have a word. Who is the injured party here?

Stewart Jones ● 1916d

Tell her to stop posting vile, defamatory statements. Your supposed to be her friend.

Stewart Jones ● 1916d

You’re

Stewart Jones ● 1916d