I see several old threads on this topic, but I would like something more up to date. I have been instructed to begin using a home blood pressure monitor and I see a lot of options out there.
I have small bones and so they used a pediatric sized cuff on me most of the time during my recent hospital stay. I don’t know how pertinent that is, but once or twice, the cuff came loose and I attempted to put it back on myself. This was not terribly successful. I need two hands to tighten and attach the velcro.
So, can you please provide your opinions about some best options for me? Your help is appreciated.
My PCP uses one of these for all her in-office BP testing:
The Walgreens website really sux, but you put it on like a wristwatch or bracelet. it’s rigid enough that it’s easy to do one-handed.
My doc’s practice does not include children, so if you have kid-sized wrists I can’t guarantee it’ll work well. I’m a small man with typical non-obese adult woman-sized wrists and it’s fine for me.
Here’s an Amazon.com search: blood pressure monitor wrist so you can better see what they look like. I didn’t dig into the details on all those, but you can probably find one that’s child-compatible if you’re really that unusually small.
I think I’d like to expand this conversation a little bit to include blood pressure medicines, if anyone has anything to contribute to that, I’d appreciate it.
How do they work? Are there side effects and if so, what are they? What should one do if they get a very high reading? Etc.
I can’t help re the small arms, but we spent some time shopping for a home blood pressure monitor, and one thing that i learned is that within a brand, the hardware and accuracy are brutally similar, and you pay more for a fancier app. We bought a machine with a very simple app that keeps track of two people in the machine, and we’re pretty happy with it.
Sit quietly with your legs uncrossed for a few minutes, doing something low stress, like reading a book, and then take another reading.
If that doesn’t give you a substantially lower reading, I’m not sure what the next step is, because when i was caring for my mom, the next reading was always a lot lower.
I prefer the wrist variety. I specifically sought out one that a nurse had verified as accurate if used correctly–which means putting your wrist over your heart when you measure. I also took it with me to the doctor’s office to verify it.
My issue is the opposite of yours: my arms are too big, and they usually have to use a larger cuff. But wrists tend to be far more similar in size.
Do note that the cuff actually goes above the wrist, by like 1/2 to 3/4 inch.
I got one of the inexpensive upper-arm ones (Omron, I think) and they sold a larger cuff as well (I’ve got big arms).
Seems to work pretty well- the only gripe I’ve got is that it’s either something like 8 AA batteries or an AC adapter that is kind of inconvenient. I’d really prefer it to use 4 batteries- AA, C or D, instead of so many AA batteries.
Otherwise, the main problem I have is remembering to check my BP at anything approaching a regular interval. I’m terrible at that.
Definitely have the correct size cuff, I think the wrong sized cuff contributes to bad readings.
With high BP, I just went to see my doctor, none of the pharmacy clinics are able to help really, if it’s very high, they would tell you to go to the ER.
WRT medication, there are probably a dozen or more options that they can mix and match to get your BP down with manageable side effects. I’m on 3 right now, and the only side effect I can think of is when I tried taking the meds at night instead of in the morning, which some people prefer, it completely ruined my sleep, tossing and turning, just miserable. But no issues if I take them first thing in the AM.
My experience is similar to others here. I’ve been using a traditional Omron for about 10 years and no problems; there are different cuff sizes available.
I might also recommend a standalone app if your monitor doesn’t include one: SmartBP (iOS for sure, don’t know about Android).
Another Omron user here. Just a basic machine, but it works fine. I’m somewhat small-boned compared with average but I don’t have any difficulty with the cuff.
As for meds: atenolol (beta blocker) and Felopidine (calcium channel blocker).
These seem to keep things reasonably under control. I am perhaps lucky, I have never really had any noticeable side effects from these.
One little caveat about the wrist monitors - they can be wildly inaccurate, especially if you have atrial fibrillation (ask me how I know). In the US, manufacturers are only required to prove to the FDA that their devices are “safe,” not that they’re accurate. There’s a list of devices that are validated, one for the US and one for outside the US.
While home blood pressure readings may not be all that accurate, the situation in physicians’ offices isn’t all that great either. A recent report found multiple reasons for inaccurate readings:
"* No standardization.
Infrequent technician/clinician training and retraining.
Using devices that haven’t been validated and/or regularly calibrated.
Not using an appropriately sized cuff.
Improper conditions and technique.
Inadequate documentation of the procedure.
“The experts also said that despite guideline recommendations, the averaging of BP within and across visits is rarely done.”
"With accurate readings so essential to diagnosing and managing hypertension, the importance of improving measurements being taken in clinical practice or clinic-based research cannot be overstated, said Dr. Rakotz, noting that “many practicing physicians assume the BPs obtained in their practice settings are accurate. In the majority, unfortunately, this is not likely the case.”
On my last office visit, the internist himself took my BP* using an old-fashioned cuff and mechanical bulb device. The reading correlated pretty well with my automatic home BP machine (one that’s among the better-rated).
Unfortunately true. When home nurses tried to take my wife’s late mother’s blood pressure, they often could not get a reliable reading. Whether this was due to poor equipment or poor training, I can’t say…?
I have an Omron evolv - in part because I have cats who like to chew on tubes if it’s in two separate pieces. I can’t speak to the size of the cuff for someone smaller than I am - I am a larger sized person and it works for me.
Missed the edit asking about meds. I’m on a hydrochlorothiazide (HCL)-lisinopril combination pill. I’ve had no significant side effects. The HCL is a diuretic so my biggest side effect has been the need to pee more often.
As I’ve lost some weight, I am noticing very occasional lightheaded moments - we didn’t adjust meds at my last appointment, but may well be doing so at my next one.
My PCP retakes the BP if it’s high. My first reading is usually high, because i tend to run late, so i was hurrying to get there on time. The second one is after he’s examined me and I’ve been sitting for a while.
I also have an omron at home, one if the cheaper models. It works well for me and my husband. We both have “ordinary” sized arms, and use the medium adult cuff at the doctor’s office.
Thanks again to everyone for all the helpful responses. I’m not up to going out shopping just yet, so I’ll run this by my new doctor as well when I see her next week.
I’ve had an omron machine for quite some time and it works great – now that burpo the dunder mutt has learned to use it properly (after 15 years of BP meds, I finally tumbled to the “rest five minutes before taking a reading” part of the procedure. Made all the difference.). For the record, I’ve taken Hydrochlorothiazide and Losartan since the beginning and a third med that has been switched out several times over the years due to side effects; lately it’s been Spironolactone which seems to be working just fine.