Re: taking BP at home

[Guest guest]

I use the one made by Omron. I purchased it at Walmart at the

recommendation of the pharmacist. I took it with me to the doctor and

got the same reading so I think it's really accurate.

> Hi Adam

>

> With all the tech talk on this list, I'm not sure I'm understanding

your

> remark about taking BP at home.

>

> It USED to be true that it was a bit difficult on your own, because

you

> inflated a cuff then let the air leak out of it slowly while trying

to

> interpret sounds through a stethoscope (on your arm just below the

cuff).

> NOW there are very affordable (and quite accurate, to my knowledge)

kits

> that use a microcomputer plus microphone (built into the cuff), so

it's very

> simple. I use one all the time, works great. You hardly ever see the

> old-fashioned stethoscope kind for sale any more (but they ARE very

cheap).

>

> There are two types, depending on whether you are willing to

inflate the

> cuff by pumping a bit on a bulb, or want the complete automation of

a

> self-inflating cuff. The self-inflators cost a bit more, and either

eat

> batteries or plug into household AC. If your hand is very weak,

this is

> great, otherwise I prefer the portability and simplicity of the

pump-up

> style (needs small batteries, but they last forever). Both have

digital

> readouts, and I think they all show your pulse as well.

>

> Several store chains have " manual-inflate " for $40 and up, and some

> " auto-inflate " for $60 and up:

>

> http://www.walgreens.com/store/productlist.jhtml?

CATID=100979&navAction=jump&navCount=0

> http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/shelf?

deptid=2227&catid=2305&subcatid=2334

> http://www.drugstore.com/search/search.asp?

searchtype=1&trx=28198&trxp1=10784&srchtree=5&search=blood+pressure+mo

nitor

>

> They also have a cool (I'm a gadget freak) model with an interface

plus

> software for your PC. This is really overkill, since you could

easily just

> enter the BP and pulse into a spreadsheet or whatever. I'm asuming

these

> keep track of the TIME of each reading, and probably can hold

multiple

> readings for later upload. But perhaps there are other features, I

haven't

> investigated.

>

> There's also some models that work on your finger instead of your

arm (for

> the cuff location) but I believe they are not as accurate. Might be

very

> convenient, though, if you are doing this by yourself.

>

> Good luck

> Steve D.

>

> > Taking pressure at home seems like a good idea, but I thought you

had

> > to really know how to do it?

> > [...]

> > Adam