Blood pressure monitor accuracy?

[lucy9990]

I checked my blood pressure over the weekend it was high every time I checked (168/91 & 181 /101 ) .
I have been to see the nurse today (128/85) .
The nurse said home blood pressure monitors are absolutely rubbish and inaccurate .
If that is the case why are millions sold ? .I'm confused .

Sounds a bit overly generalised? They can’t all be hopeless — it’s common for GPs to recommend that people buy them.

My GP pointed me towards one from Lloyds (the chemist) and said it was the same sort they use in the surgery.

I do think it’s common for people at home to make errors in how we use them, though. I’m not saying you did; but for myself, it took me a while to realise how much things like posture and so on really mattered.

@LemonJuiceFromConcentrate

Sounds a bit overly generalised? They can’t all be hopeless — it’s common for GPs to recommend that people buy them.

My GP pointed me towards one from Lloyds (the chemist) and said it was the same sort they use in the surgery.

I do think it’s common for people at home to make errors in how we use them, though. I’m not saying you did; but for myself, it took me a while to realise how much things like posture and so on really mattered.

Yes totally agree with you - back supported no cross legs , pee first ect . I have a wrist monitor ( had loads of good reviews ) and a Lloyds pharmacy arm one . I'm a bit pissed off with her for saying that tbh.

Not true. I have a home machine, that I took with me to the emergency room and also to the GP. Both times I took my BP and then again used their machines and readings were similar (super high thanks to my anxiety!). Anyway, then when I calmed down later, my machine showed my readings lower and then at the same GP readings went down. BP can flucuate....that is why its important to take readings a few times. Also, I have two machines and yes, one gives slightly higher readings....but I know that. Take your machine to the GP and do readsings there w yours and the GP machine so you can test it out.

Our GP practice tells us hypertensive patients to purchase one so not sure why your practice nurse said they are rubbish.
I have always bought Omron ones as that is what our GP practice use. I got told to bring mine in once to check readings and GP ended up using mine as his was not working.
I was told to buy upper cuff one.

Are you using the right sized cuff at home? A cuff that's too small can make the readings appear higher.

They're pretty accurate especially if you repeat often. Ive used mine for years x

These machines do need calibrating to ensure they are accurate. At my hospital they are calibrated yearly.

I think she's talking nonsense.

Our GP told my DH to bring his home one in and he'd do them at the same time, there was hardly any difference.

I've was told my my GP that wrist ones are useless. I have fat arms so cuff ones can be really uncomfortable - painful enough that it skews the reading, so I've got an Omron wrist one. Comparing it with the GP manual machine and the huge one in reception where you stick your arm in a plastic hole, has taught me that the readings I get from my wrist cuff and perfectly accurate - even if they are hideously high!

Sometimes the blood pressure machine show high level because of our tension and stress. This is a normal thing, But if your machine is always showing wrong pressure level, then you should check up your blood pressure at outdoor store or lab. It may helps to check up your blood pressure and also helps to keep your body health condition in a good way.

NICE don't recommend wrist monitors (at least they didn't the last time I checked). But other than that your nurse is talking bollocks. As others have said take it along with you to the surgery next time and check yours against theirs.

I have a Omron cuff one, the same as what my doctor has. If it's good enough for him it good enough for me.

That's a dangerous statement from your nurse.
NICE guidelines include home monitor readings (for certain situations obviously not all, but generally).

I bought the same one my doctor uses.
It's an Omron comfort3? (bought for £65 in Boots).

I have had a wrist one on the past but I'd not recommend.

I still have a message sent from my GP in the last year suggesting I send them home monitor bp readings, as they can give more accurate readings than you get in the surgery.
I take mine fairly regularly, and for whatever reason the first reading is often pretty high. It's the same at the doctor's. If I leave it a few minutes and read something to distract me, the next one will be significantly lower, and a subsequent reading lower still.

Which is exactly why we ask for home readings.

In my 10 hour a day clinic I reckon I ask at least 30% of patients to do home BP readings and we loan out BP monitors (£15 on Amazon) too.

Who is this message responding to?

I'm using my mum's Omron monitor as I'm setting up my watch to monitor my BP because it was 143/113 when the nurse took it for my annual review. My readings I have done are much lower, on average 138/89.