BP Home Machines

[Hanibal]

Hi,

I know that home blood pressure machines are inaccurate when measuring whilst in arrhythmia, but does that just refer to the heart rate and not the actual BP?

Thanks

[Mrsvemb]

No the BP is inaccurate as well. The only machine that is accurate is a sphygmomanometer. Only trouble is that you cannot use this on yourself. You don’t have enough hands 🤣.

I did buy one that had the stethoscope on the cuff, but after trying it out I sent it back. It was no good.

[Megams in reply to Mrsvemb]

~Well you live and learn - bought mine B/P monitor from the Chemist some years ago on advice of GP but there was no mention anywhere that it could be off target when we do our recordings at home - thank you for that info ~

[opal11uk]

Because of my iratic and 'irritable' heart I am often set the task of taking own stats like this and I wondered the same!!! I have to record my daily readings and then after 7 days work out the average, how can my readings be in any way accurate? I also wear a pacemaker that stops my HR going lower than 60 revs a minute and drugs to keep the A/F in check and the medics are trying to regulate me back into sinus rhythm. Having had P/A/F for over 20 years I also knew when I went into it but this has somehow just crept in and I was so very surprised to learn that I was now in permanent A/F hence keeping a record.

[Barb1]

I always take the measurement at least 3 times and often 7. Then I discount the lowest and highest and take the average.

[DevonHubby1]

Some, generally more expensive, home monitors are AF aware. Ours takes 3 or more readings before giving the BP and HR and a view on wheher youre in AF or not.

[Merrylass in reply to DevonHubby1]

can you tell me which home monitor you are using please?

Thanks. Merrylass

[DevonHubby1 in reply to Merrylass]

Microlife WatchBP Home Blood Pressure Monitor

[Merrylass in reply to DevonHubby1]

Many thanks.

[Rainfern]

Hi Hannibal - I was recommended the Microlife Home A (available on BHF website) by on of the BHF advisors. It takes 3 consecutive readings, gives an average and also lets you know if it detects AF. My GP and cardiologist both seem content for me to provide BP readings with this.

[Rainfern in reply to Rainfern]

Just to add - you have the same forum name as our Siamese cat. I’m told he was named after the Emperor …..

[Hanibal in reply to Rainfern]

Mine is a nick name from my schooldays (literally a half century ago!).

[Ppiman]

It's the blood pressure. A study I read showed that the only reasonably accurate machine to use was a traditional mercury sphygmomanometer with stethoscope.

Steve

[Dippy22 in reply to Ppiman]

Oh, is that where they used to manually pump up the strap, then listen in the crook of your elbow with a stethoscope? Those were the days.

[Ppiman in reply to Dippy22]

That's right. I bet there are still some around!

Steve

[Izzle]

Last week I visited my Electrophysiologist. At one point in the interview he took my BP with the his automatic machine (167/102 due to white coat syndrome). To his surprise I requested we check my old Omron home unit (170/whatever). Obviously close enough to indicate the general region of my BP and validate all the previous home results.

As for HR, all these machines have different electronic algorhythms so they also only produce an indication close to the real thing.

[Engineer46]

Most home BP machines are good enough for our purposes, which are to monitor BP changes rather than to record precise numbers. If you get a surprisingly high or low result, take a couple more readings and average them if it concerns you.

Although the BP measurement taken in the doctor's surgery may be precisely correct, it may also be erroneously high due to white coat syndrome!

A heart rate taken by a BP machine is an average over perhaps only 15 seconds and for someone in AF the result could be quite different to one taken over a longer period using, say, a home ECG device.

Best wishes,

Paul

[Autumn_Leaves]

Home BP machines are accurate enough for home monitoring purposes. I haven’t been to any outpatient appointment in years, where the old fashioned type was used. It’s probably more important to pay attention to the long term trends rather than rely on an absolute number, and to keep an eye out for specific patterns of change. Also, you need to either send off your BP monitor to be recalibrated every couple of years (or buy a new one if it works out cheaper).

[DiyChas]

I agree with my omron machine indicating I have "possible afib". I am 78 and probably had afib for 40 years without knowing. I can't understand the resulting chart but can see the irregular heart beat.

I just watch for the pattern to change consistently. It hasn't.

I am on bisoprolol to reduce my HR to around 80 which may help stabilize my hard to detect afib.

I am suspicious of side affects. Is anyone else?

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

AF interfers with H/R mostly.

Uncontrolled my monitor would give me an Err.

Get your monitor checked by your GP/Nurse at your clinic.

Remember monitor and arm higher than heart.

Also no talking or moving for 20 minutes.

And take 3 5 mins apart and then take avge.

Cheri JOY 74. (NZ)

[Dippy22]

I’m aware my home BP machine and even those in hospital do not pick up the heart rate accurately when in AFIB. When in AFib I think the heart is fluttering and simply doesn’t pump hard enough for the machines to pick it up.

I’ve gone into A&E several times saying I’m in AFIB and when they plug me into the BP monitor and it shows a HR of 65 they look at me like I’m mad. But when they put me on an ECG they go “Oh sh*t, you are aren’t you!” 😀. I now know to warn the triage nurse to ignore it and wait for the full ECG.

[Hidden]

After I have made 5 million measurements (lol) with the old BP gauge (it has collapsed, Turkish production), I switched to a new one (German production). To my surprise, my BP, which usually was at the level 150-160/90-100, suddenly changed to 170-180/80-90. My impression is that my upper value shows increased by 10 points, while my lower value shows reduced by 10 points. What to think? Whenever it shows 180/80, I consider it to be wrong. The difference is too large... Will try to test it with measuring BP at the pharmacy or similar...

For those ones who may think that my BP is too high - I refuse to take BP medication (generally reluctant to take drugs) and am testing the "old" rule that the BP may be as high as 100+age (now 71, so am satisfied with the upper value of 170). For now, I feel well and function perfectly well. Let's see...

[Popepaul]

I use an Omron. I think that it is reliable. I have checked the reading with a manual spyg for both myself and my wife. The BP readings are the same and a manual check of the pulse is the same.During AF The HR number is impossible to measure manually. The machine appears is give an average which is always high.

Regards

[Vonnegut]

I find they seem to work ok for taking blood pressure but can only indicate a problem with the heart rate and not what it is! I carried one around briefly until I was introduced to the delights of a smart phone and Kardia! How my life changed!!