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I have one that’s nearly 20 years old. Took it out the closet after more than 10 years without use. My reading, after waking and before eating or drinking, was super high compared to my recent annual physical just a few months ago.
1. Do home automatic bloodpressure machines lose accuracy over time?
2. Can they be recalibrated by the manufacturer?
3. Should I just replace it with a new model
4. If replace, how often should they be replaced?
Most home BP monitoring machines aren't accurate at all. Even new. They weren't ever validated for accuracy.
Especially those upper arm and wrist cuffs. Simply because manufacturers are NOT required to have their products validated.
You might want to check if your machine is validated on this website: https://www.validatebp.org/
The monitor should be approved by the FDA and validated by the VDL or STRIDE BP. Validated BP monitors have ISO validation protocol #
Most home BP monitoring machines aren't accurate at all. Even new. They weren't ever validated for accuracy.
Especially those upper arm and wrist cuffs. Simply because manufacturers are NOT required to have their products validated.
You might want to check if your machine is validated on this website: https://www.validatebp.org/
The monitor should be approved by the FDA and validated by the VDL or STRIDE BP. Validated BP monitors have ISO validation protocol #
I have two machines. One is nearly 20 years old and the other my mom was using before she passed away 4 years ago. The one she was using is Omron, a brand listed several times on the link you provided. The one I bought nearly 20 years ago is Lumiscope. After buying it I took it to the doctor’s office to compare to their reading and the doctor said it was accurate enough for regular home monitoring. Everything on both machines works fine. I question if they lose accuracy over time and how often should they be replaced or calibrated if possible.
IMHO what needs calibrated are the nurses and doctors that use a manual sphygmomanometer and stethoscope to take BP readings. And without rolling up your shirt sleeve, and talking while listening to the o'scope. :-(
2 of my doctors use Omron models and recommended them to me. I bought one and went to their office and compared and we're all in sync. Both said wrist bp machines are not as accurate or reliable as the arm cuff ones are. I got an arm cuff one and am satisfied with it's results.
IMHO what needs calibrated are the nurses and doctors that use a manual sphygmomanometer and stethoscope to take BP readings. And without rolling up your shirt sleeve, and talking while listening to the o'scope. :-(
I went to urgent care back several months ago and the assistant rolled the BP/heart rate/oxygen level machine up to me and then said, "Oh darn. It isn't working". I replied, "Here, let me show you how to operate it".
That's interesting. I wonder how many docs offices regularly calibrate their manual sphyg....spgyh.... sphygo..... manual bloodpressure cuffs. I'd bet most of them never think about it.
After a medical emergency I was advised by a cardiologist to monitor my BP regularly at home. I asked her how accurate those machines are and she said VERY. I ordered the best arm cuff Amazon offered and the results match those of a clinic visit.
Calibration and how often the unit needs to be replaced is beyond my scope of knowledge.
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