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Ess 94

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Calling all nurses!

I need a home blood pressure monitor. I would like some advice on
best home aneroid units. Please be aware I don't mind paying for
quality, but am on fixed income, so can't afford commercial units.

I had an aneroid cuff w/ built in steth, but the dang meter changed
zero over time, so could no longer trust it. I now have an older
Omron 712C digital. Seems to work ok, but I have no way to check
calibration. I like aneroid, cuz I know how to read it and it will
allow more granular reading. I jes need some advice on unit to buy.

I notice this unit:

http://www.amazon.com/LifeSource-UA-100-Aneroid-Pressure-Monitor/dp/B000B688MA

.....which looks like my original rig. This one claims to have an
"calibration screwdriver". Professional advice welcome. ;)

nb
 
On 3/24/2011 2:52 PM, notbob wrote:
For years I've been satisfied with a Walmart cuff that I bought on
Consumer Reports recommendation. The results I get are in agreement with
those gotten by a nurse at my cardiologist's. It has a wall adapter but
it's quite economical of batteries.

Here's a URL to CR's latest ratings:
http://www.martinrothonline.com/per.../Consumer_Reports_blood_pressure_monitors.htm

I'll give a TinyUrl in case the long address is a problem.

http://tinyurl.com/4gqt3kq

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm "not"
[email protected]
 
On Mar 24, 11:52?am, notbob wrote:


I'm not sure if it's an aneroid unit, but the Lifesource UA-767
is what's recommended by Kaiser NorCal for home use. I often
bring it to my doctor's appointments so it can be compared to
spig readings, and it's always close.

Hmm... some googling suggests it's not aneroid, but some other Lifesource
models are.


Steve
 
"notbob" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
LifeSource is an excellent company. That's a very good price for everything
the aneroid unit includes.
I've had this digital LifeSource unit for years and swear by it:
http://www.amazon.com/LifeSource-UA...ef=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1300999173&sr=1-6
I've compared this unit for accuracy in my dr's office and it's right on.
This is the only unit sold by the hospital pharmacy.
If you're retired and in the peri-geezer phase of life, I'd consider the
digital device because you won't have to depend on your hearing.

Good Luck,



Kent
 
I think for home use a digital automatic blood pressure monitor is far
easier to use and more accurate for self use... they are not
expensive... the aneroid units really need someone else with a
stethoscope.

Were it me I'd ask my doctor and/or pharmacist for a recommendation.
I've discovered that the best prices for medical equipment are from on
line stores.
http://www.epinions.com/search/?sub...r&searchbar_submit.x=32&searchbar_submit.y=20

I've been very satisfied with Omron's products:
http://www.consumersearch.com/blood-pressure-monitors

Have your doctor write a Rx for the unit and it will be covered under
your medical insurance.
 
Brooklyn1 wrote:

I have an Omron Automatic BP monitor, model HEM 711. It is old still works
well. Close to what the Doc's office measurements. I did have to pay extra
for the large cuff.
--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)
 
Nad R wrote:

There's no such thing as exact BP anyway, unless you're dead... it's
always an average over time because each time a BP reading is taken
it's going to vary. The home unit is for constant plotting and for
catching spikes... any reading out of the ordinary could mean a doctor
visit or a trip to the ER. Nowadays there are units that record all
your readings to your PC, even while asleep (that's what I'd get),
then it's a simple matter to periodically send the data to your doc.


Pretend you paid extra for the large condom. lol
 
On Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:50:43 -0700, "Dimitri"
wrote:


Most any pharmacy will compare your BP meter with theirs. Anyone
relying on any medical equipment should have at least two units, three
of everything is better... medical paraphenalia always seems to break
down late Friday night. It's also good to have a light weight compact
portable model for traveling, even if only to the store. Anyone who
thinks they only need one BP meter is not really medically needy of
any, means they just want it as a curiosity. Never skimp on life
saving equipment.
 
On Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:06:08 -0400, Brooklyn1 wrote:


A man with one clock knows what time it is. A man with two clocks is
never sure.
Same goes for BP monitors.

Ross.
 
On Mar 24, 1:52?pm, notbob wrote:

Home blood glucose meters are no substitute for lab blood tests. They
give approximate results only. I can't remember the name of the one
that I currently use in the long term retirement center I work at, but
it's strips come with a chip I put in the meter, and then I check it's
accuracy using standardized "normal" and "high" test solutions. If
when using a new set of test strips and their chip the meter does not
read within the normal and high ranges, we send the meter in for
servicing.

I doubt any home glucose meter is gonna let you actually change it's
calibration. Opens the meter's manufacturer up to too many lawsuits.

John Kuthe, RN...
 
On Mar 26, 9:32?am, John Kuthe wrote:

Oops! Mistakenly thought you were talking about home blood glucose
meters. Never mind!

John Kuthe, RN...
 
My wife uses an Omron digital. I don't recall where I read it, but they are
supposed to be one of the best. Checked with a unit at the doctor's office,
it is quite accurate and consistent. Some nurses/doctors don't even trust
the digital units in the hospital though, but they are generally pretty
good. My wife was in the other day and the nurse used both and got similar
readings. I say similar because her pressure was erratic and very low for a
period of time so there is no way to get a perfect comparison.

OTOH, she was to give a drug depending on blood pressure. The nurse said
she'd take a few readings until she go what she wanted.
 
On 2011-03-26, Ed Pawlowski wrote:


I know how to read a aneroid BP cuff, but how about arm placement?

If I put my arm up on the back of the couch, IOW relaxed but straight
out from my body, I get very low readings. If I let my arm hang down
by my side, I get readings more in line with someone requiring BP
meds, which I do.

nb
 
Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Keep in mind that a more accurate reading is obtained with an empty
bladder, legs un-crossed, a relaxed mindset, etc. For some patients,
the more you take the pressure, the higher it goes-anxiety over the
results or "white coat hypertension" kicks in.

I'd trust a real sphygmomanometer with a stethoscope over an automatic
for home use but that isn't realistic. A good home automatic is useful
for showing trends, if not exact numbers. BPs vary through the day and
with many variables.
 
notbob wrote:

You want the arm to be at the level of the heart. So let it lay at your
side rather than raise it up on the couch back (which would give a false
reading)

Also, make sure your cuff fits you.. too small a cuff will give you a
falsely high reading, and too large a cuff will be falsely low.
 
On Sat, 26 Mar 2011 10:12:31 -0400, Ross@home wrote:


I can tell you without looking that it's 5 o'clock somewhere in the
world.


And a stopped clock is always right twice a day.



--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
 
In article , Ross@home
wrote:



That's certainly true. I was out and about a couple of weeks ago, and
felt a little funny. I stopped dead right there and pulled out my three
BP meters. It was really hard to concentrate what with all the car
horns blaring. Didn't those people understand this was Life and Death?
A policeman came up to my window and started whining about my stopping
in the middle of the busiest intersection in the town, and how traffic
was blocked for three blocks in every direction. I told him it was Life
and Death. He went to try to direct traffic around my vehicle. I
finally got two readings from each machine. I was feeling much better
by then. Those things can really save your life! I stuck my head out
the window to thank the policeman and went on my way. I could have died
if I hadn't had those three machines with me!

[Note - the above story is fictional and designed solely for my
entertainment]


Of course, you can get yourself confused with just one machine. It's
not a good idea to take more than one reading. What do you do if they
are different?

I went to see my doctor a few months ago. It was a routine visit. I
have diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I am on meds
for all three and doing OK. So they took my BP. It was way high,
141/77. I told her that, and she told me to stand up and took it again.
115/74!

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
[email protected]
 
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