favorite home blood pressure monitor?

[ocpaul20]

When I have done investigations online, they all seem to be subject to some variation. The most accurate are the doctors mercury ones I believe but they have to be regularly checked and balanced for atmospheric pressure or something similar. The comments I have seen on Amazon mostly say that folks get them checked at the doctors office and they nearly always are out by a bit.

As far as I can see, the idea is to get one and stick with it and then from day-to-day you will probably know if your BP is up or down relative to your own machine. I dont think there is a definitive reading for these things, even on the same person my readings vary from left to right arm and I dont see why they should if I only have one heart ! Maybe someone can explain that one? Perthaps I have blockages somewhere?

Even the (mostly Omron) models in the surgery have some similar comments against them being out against the doctors mercury one, so I guess that each surgery knows their own Omron machine and how it performs and uses that as a general indicator of patient BP.

[bande1102]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I mainly want one to check for trends and give me some feedback. My blood pressure has been normal at the doctor's office; but high blood pressure runs in my family.

So far, I have normal BP, but I definitely want to keep an eye on it, especially b/c everyone in my family is currently taking bp meds. I workout regularly and try to keep a health diet. This is just one more tool to keep me on track.

[bande1102]

Originally Posted by PhotogGal

I have an Omron that runs on AA batteries or with an adapter that it came with. It also has memory, but I don't use that feature. One feature I do like is that it shows when your heart rate is irregular. I didn't know what that meant the first couple times it showed on my reading, but when I ended up in the hospital a few days later, I learned that I was experiencing A-fib. Thankfully, I haven't seen that symbol again since they got me back in sinus rhythm and on meds to control it.

I will try to edit this post later and provide the model number.

Wow, that is really scary. I'm glad things are better for you now.

[cebuan]

Wrist monitors cost almost as much as cuffs, and most users complain that it is very difficult to get it positioned correctly. So to me, for home use, I was willing to pay a little more for the cuff version.

The first one I bought lasted about six months and then the on-off switch crapped out, so I had to replace. I bought the cheapest I could find and I expect something similar will happen, but never mind.

It's typical of the current trend in global economics to make the cheapest product. How much does a Chinese power switch cost to the manufacturer -- two cents? For four cents they could have bought switches twice as reliable and durable, and raised the price of the product from $16.87 to $16.89. For two cents, they made the choice that consigned their entire output to a warehouse full of useless junk, instead of affordable appliances. The wave of the future.