Blood pressure testing machines

[stratovani]

Just a quick question regarding those blood pressure testing machines you see at Wal-Mart and some supermarkets. Recently I've been testing myself on those machines and I've had fairly high readings, in the 160/90 range, which is supposed to be Stage 1 Hypertension. What I'm wondering is how accurate are these machines? Are they just as accurate as the BP testers at the doctor's office? I'm 54, overweight (who isn't these days!), don't smoke, have poor eating habits, and I try to go out for walks once in a while, time and weather permitting.

[Jeff K]

If you're talking about the ones where you slip your arm into a permanent sleeve, then press the button, I never use them anymore. If you have a pretty big arm, it'll scare the s*** out of you. I thought it was gonna' cut my arm off several times, so I hit the "Stop" button.

What I'd recommend is that you buy one of the home kits. Make up a little chart with columns for "Date"; "BP"; and "Pulse". Take your own pressure around the same time every day. Take it once, then wait a minute or two and take it again. Log each reading.

After awhile, you'll see if there's a pattern. If it's consistently in the "normal" zone, but goes high in the doctor's office, it's probably just "White Coat Syndrome". Take your BP logs with you when you go to the doctor so they can see how it's been over time. I won't go near those "arm-severing" machines...

[RWP]

If your BP is really 160/90 you need to be seeing a doctor asap. That is a pretty high reading. He'll tell you all the usual stuff, loose weight, eat better and exercise. And probably put you on a hypertension med.

[SelenaBassGirl]

I have high blood pressure and used to check myself when I worked at the doc's office. Then I bought one of those machines...
Be honest, IDK how often the calibrated them machines at Walmart. Always seem to give me an ultra high reading that scared the s*** out of me...

[TheDarkReaver]

judging from your self-description: even if the machine is reading a little higher than it should, you should probably still get checked out by a doctor.

[peterbright]

It's better than not checking it at all...buy one & start exercising regularly.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

A sphygmomanometer for your own use is not all that expensive. But see a doctor right away to get yourself checked out. You can always use the sphyg to check on yourself to see how you're doing.