Blood pressure monitor recommendations

[Pigmy Pony]

Went for a blood pressure check this morning, and it was rather higher than last year, 150/78, up from 138/80 previously. I don't think the nurse's rather nice legs helped much. Anyway, she suggested buying a tester as an alternative to borrowing one of their 24 hour jobbies. Apparently they can be had for as little as £15.

Had a look on Amazon when I got home and the choice, and price range is mind boggling. Can anyone recommend a good monitor that won't break the bank?

[brian2957]

I've had an Omron one for years Steve . Little bit more expensive but mines has been very reliable .

[Sherwood]

I've had an Omron one for years Steve . Little bit more expensive but mines has been very reliable .

+1 for Omron. Well made and accurate. Make sure you get one with a cuff that fits you (i.e. a large cuff if you have "big guns")

Geoff

[Bethelcat]

I have one of the Withings BP monitors...wireless and uses a smart phone for its display and to keep a record of readings. You can also pair with, for example, weigh scales and track BP changes in line with weight changes

[hifi_dave]

I have used an Omron for 12 years now without hitch but it was very expensive. I would now go for something a lot less expensive but from a reliable vendor, such as Boots. It's not that their is any difference in performance or accuracy.

When I see a Consultant nowadays and I do a lot, they never go on the first reading. They usually do 3 on the trot and write down the best. The pressure can change in a few seconds.

[walpurgis]

I've had a cheap wrist monitor for about ten years, cost me a fiver sent from China, still going strong. It seems accurate enough, as I take readings before and after a visit to the GP for a check and my results are very similar.

My blood pressure is usually around normal since I packed up fags & booze and I got fed up with the side effects from the BP meds, so I've stopped taking them. BP was 116 over 76 just now, which is quoted as lower than the norm for a male my age.

Out of curiosity, I checked the wife yesterday. 88 over 56 was the result, which is pretty low. She won't see the Doc though.

[Sherwood]

Don't skimp on a decent monitor: it is critical that they give accurate readings The Omrons are not expensive anyway.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_5?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=omron+blood+pressure+monitors+for+home+us e&sprefix=omron%2Caps%2C319&crid=SB0IBW57NIAO


Geoff

[hifi_dave]

Out of curiosity, I checked the wife yesterday. 88 over 56 was the result, which is pretty low. She won't see the Doc though.

Your Wife really should see the GP. Low pressure is pretty well as bad as high BP.

[walpurgis]

Your Wife really should see the GP. Low pressure is pretty well as bad as high BP.

Not a chance that she'll go.

She nearly died of pneumonia about three years ago, 'cos she wouldn't see a doctor.

[struth]

yeah, the wife had low bp's for years. it came up to near normal eventually, but it was low for 25 years. not much they can do with it tho

[Svend N]

Steve, judging by your avatar it looks like you could really use a little drop in BP :D.

+1 to Omron. Great unit. Agreed: don't skimp on a good one. Worth it to get accurate results. Not a good scenario if the readings are off, if you think about it... Just sayin'....

[Ali Tait]

Make sure it’s a calibrated unit, it’ll say so in the blurb. Most are anyway.

[Firebottle]

I have a Sanitas wrist cuff one that I bought from Lidl.

The doctor suggested that with this simple type add 5 to the lower reading and 10 to the upper reading to get a more accurate figure.
My BP has reduced since taking more regular exercise.

[AJSki2fly]

If you go to Lloyds Chemist they have a number of reasonably priced and accurate BP monitors, I purchased on for £25 after my heart attack 3 years ago and regularly use it if I am not feeling right. Some have the capability to connect computer by USB to download and view in an application they supply, if you go for one like this then check it supports what you have Windows or Mac OS.

[Sherwood]

I have a Sanitas wrist cuff one that I bought from Lidl.

The doctor suggested that with this simple type add 5 to the lower reading and 10 to the upper reading to get a more accurate figure.
My BP has reduced since taking more regular exercise.

What no tubes? I expected at least one valve to be involved! :eyebrows:

[Pieoftheday]

Went for a blood pressure check this morning, and it was rather higher than last year, 150/78, up from 138/80 previously. I don't think the nurse's rather nice legs helped much. Anyway, she suggested buying a tester as an alternative to borrowing one of their 24 hour jobbies. Apparently they can be had for as little as £15.

Had a look on Amazon when I got home and the choice, and price range is mind boggling. Can anyone recommend a good monitor that won't break the bank?

I wouldn't bother at all,I know some that have them and they get addicted to checking, cant see how that helps anyone

[Sherwood]

I wouldn't bother at all,I know some that have them and they get addicted to checking, cant see how that helps anyone

I wouldn't encourage anyone on this forum to follow your medical advice. Regular BP monitoring is essential for those with a wide range of medical conditions. Sudden changes in BP can signal an imminent medical event, and 150/78 is a cause for concern.

[Pigmy Pony]

Steve, judging by your avatar it looks like you could really use a little drop in BP :D.

+1 to Omron. Great unit. Agreed: don't skimp on a good one. Worth it to get accurate results. Not a good scenario if the readings are off, if you think about it... Just sayin'....

Thanks Svend :) in my defence I've never been very photogenic!

Following the first couple of posts from Brian and Geoff, I've opted for an Omron, and it's good to see further recommendations for them. Cost just £36 and comes with a large cuff as suggested - my "guns" earned me the nickname Arnie (or was it Sarnie?)

All I need then is to be able to put off my breakfast first thing in the morning until I've done the readings, and that's going to be the hardest thing - brekkie comes before everything :(

[Bethelcat]

I wouldn't encourage anyone on this forum to follow your medical advice. Regular BP monitoring is essential for those with a wide range of medical conditions. Sudden changes in BP can signal an imminent medical event, and 150/78 is a cause for concern.

+1 a lot can be done about BP extremes if you know when yours is not right, and there are an awful lot of risk factors associated with doing nothing. Wholly agree that monitoring and doing nothing is of no value though!

[Pieoftheday]

I wouldn't encourage anyone on this forum to follow your medical advice. Regular BP monitoring is essential for those with a wide range of medical conditions. Sudden changes in BP can signal an imminent medical event, and 150/78 is a cause for concern.

Crack on with constant worry, not for me:)

[Sherwood]

Crack on with constant worry, not for me:)

Follow your own advice on this by all means, but you really shouldn't be giving bad medical advice to others!

[Pigmy Pony]

Crack on with constant worry, not for me:)

I see where you're coming from James, but I know what I'm like - it's not knowing that would worry me. And I think I should make a couple of lifestyle changes too, I'm 61 now and perhaps it's time I grew up and stopped acting like I'll live forever.

Post from Geoff Walpurgis is heartening - if I could get things back to normal without meds that's got to be a good thing. :)

[Pieoftheday]

I see where you're coming from James, but I know what I'm like - it's not knowing that would worry me. And I think I should make a couple of lifestyle changes too, I'm 61 now and perhaps it's time I grew up and stopped acting like I'll live forever.

Post from Geoff Walpurgis is heartening - if I could get things back to normal without meds that's got to be a good thing. :)

I get im being a tad flipant but sometimes I get a bit 'bollox, Sumats gna kill you' and I'm fxxked if worry will. :cool:

[Pigmy Pony]

I get im being a tad flipant but sometimes I get a bit 'bollox, Sumats gna kill you' and I'm fxxked if worry will. :cool:

A fair point, however worry may well still be the thing to kill me - I am a born worrier, and setting my mind at ease on this will simply move my worrying on to something else!

At least I may be reducing my chance of a stroke though. My mum had a major one when she was three years younger than I am now, and although it wasn't fatal it did ruin her mind and body for a couple of years. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even James Corden.

[Pieoftheday]

A fair point, however worry may well still be the thing to kill me - I am a born worrier, and setting my mind at ease on this will simply move my worrying on to something else!

At least I may be reducing my chance of a stroke though. My mum had a major one when she was three years younger than I am now, and although it wasn't fatal it did ruin her mind and body for a couple of years. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even James Corden.

I have experience of stroke too.truely awful

[struth]

Think the answer is there. Is your doc worried? If they say keep an eye on it the do so. It's not silly high but if continually at that level they may suggest dietary changes or some meds. I would keep a diary fir a week

[Svend N]

Thanks Svend :) in my defence I've never been very photogenic!



Well I meant the swollen head pic, but now you've gone and changed your avatar yet again. Slow down Steve, we can't keep up :D.

[rmcin626]

Good discussion on Scotland Tonight at the moment on blood pressure

[Hypnotist]

I had a Boots one but now have a Omron more reliable reading against the check in the Doctors

[Pieoftheday]

Not a monitor but apparently beetroot is good for reducing blood pressure?

[Pigmy Pony]

Not a monitor but apparently beetroot is good for reducing blood pressure?

Mmm, I do like beetroot :)

[Pigmy Pony]

Well I meant the swollen head pic, but now you've gone and changed your avatar yet again. Slow down Steve, we can't keep up :D.

Hey it's Marco that's doing all these avatars! I'm no good at posting pics, so he kindly offered to put some good 'uns on for me. He probably thinks they're embarrassingly bad but little does he know that most of them are actually an improvement on the real thing :)

[Pieoftheday]

Mmm, I do like beetroot :)

Me too, whether it's TRUE I don't know

[johnN]

+ another one for Omron. Mine is the M10-1T model,but it may no longer be a current model.

[willbewill]

Yes beetroot can help. I have white coat syndrome...if anybody medical takes my blood pressure then it is high. They tried putting me on medication, I read the side effects and decided no, cut out the salt and modified lifestyle some more, started taking my own BP each day and it was pretty much fine within a few weeks.

I take it occasionally now just to check all is still good and for a week or so once a year when GP practice asks.

Something to really avoid eating is liquorice.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yes beetroot can help. I have white coat syndrome...if anybody medical takes my blood pressure then it is high. They tried putting me on medication, I read the side effects and decided no, cut out the salt and modified lifestyle some more, started taking my own BP each day and it was pretty much fine within a few weeks.

I take it occasionally now just to check all is still good and for a week or so once a year when GP practice asks.

Something to really avoid eating is liquorice.

Good to know, Malcolm, I avoid liquorice anyway due to it being cack - can't stand the stuff.

Used my BP monitor (Omron M3 Intellisense) for first time today, and readings averaged 150/82 which is pretty much identical to what the nurse got from me last week. I'm supposed to take twice daily readings for a week then get the results to her.

This machine showed my heartrate to be 48 which seems kind of low to me but rather that than say 148 eh?

Mrs P. always goes on about the amount of salt I put on food, but I tell her that my advancing years have knackered my taste buds. How much does that affect BP?

[willbewill]

Salt is a big no no

http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/salt/Home/Whysaltisbad/Saltseffects

[ReggieB]

Beetroot .... or you could follow some fairly straightforward well respected advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/prevention/