upper arm or wrist cuff monitor?

[reidmar]

was reading on the bhf site that i should use a upper arm cuff blood pressure monitor and not a wrist type monitor, just wondering why not the wrist type, (i’ve used a wrist type for 2 years with apparently no issue. )

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Most sources suggest using an upper arm device, the reason is that blood pressure measurements taken at the wrist are usually higher and less accurate than those taken at your upper arm. That's because the wrist arteries are narrower and not as deep under your skin as those of the upper arm, as per article from the Mayo Clinic, link below:-

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con....

[reidmar in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

thanks for the info, didn't know the bit about the arteries in the wrist being narrower, will maybe look to change to an upper arm monitor, thanks👍

[Hidden]

Perfect reply from SpiritoftheFloyd. It’s why you never see anyone medically trained using a wrist monitor - always boggles my mind a bit as to why it’s acceptable to sell them to the general public if they aren’t really considered as reliable for purpose by the profession. Both the BHF and American Heart Association advise against wrist monitors.

[Lakesaver in reply to Hidden]

I use one because it has an AF indicator which I found helpful, and is not available on my arm cuff monitor. I compared readings when I purchased the device, and the variance was not significant. I have low blood pressure. I am also taking part in a clinical study and the hospital doctor was content for me to use a wrist monitor.

[Honeybee1961]

I have a wrist one, made by Omron, it is the same type as the one my GP uses in her surgery, and I have not had a problem with it. It also has a feature that detects possible heart rhythm issues. I hadn’t realised this was there until it flagged up a couple of times after my bypass surgery. I used to have an upper arm one, but found it impossible to wrap around my arm tightly enough one handed.

[Mancy]

No one ever mentions having to use leg..

[Alison_L in reply to Mancy]

Mine was taken on my leg a couple of times when I was in hospital and I had too many canulas and plasters on my arms!