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[pscocoa]

I very rarely take pills for anything - maybe I have been lucky.

I have had a bit of a battle with the GP - every time he does the blood pressure he says it is too high, eat less, cut down coffee and alcohol, lose weight etc. He is pushing towards medication.

The machine he uses is similar (Omron) to the one I have at home - the readings at home are fine and usually less than Systolic 140 (which is what he would be happy with) over Diastolic 80. When I go to him it can be Diastolic 107 instead of the 84 he recommends. At home Diastolic is 73 to 90 with a lot of readings in 80s and one 97.

You may have seen that GP blood pressure tests are now deemed unreliable in favour of 24 hour monitoring. I wonder how many people out there are taking medication for blood pressure when they do not need to. I would say that cutting down on coffee in favour of black tea has reduced my pressures however.

He has now agreed to consider my home readings.

My company's life insurers are loading me 50% extra premium becuase of the GP results as well.

Should be interesting to see if this can be reversed.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I'm not on medication of any sort.

As I'm starting to get on a bit, Mrs Opti suggested we should invest in a blood pressure monitor .........(just in case at your age ) Cheeky mare..... 

We recently purchased one from Lloyds pharmacy.

When relaxed my BP is usually in the 120 over 75 or 80 region ....... combined with a resting pulse rate of below 70.

[cem_devecioglu]

I have discovered that all 3 machines (in home) give varying results.. 

also the point of application (where the sensor is connected) can dramatically change the results and also it changes from person to person.. correct one is from left arm , at heart level, sitting position and left arm on the table with some pillows to level it.. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I have discovered that all 3 machines (in home) give varying results.. 

also the point of application (where the sensor is connected) can dramatically change the results and also it changes from person to person.. correct one is from left arm , at heart level, sitting position and left arm on the table with some pillows to level it..

Three machines Cem.... . Are you a wealthy hypercondriac?....

[cem_devecioglu]

I have discovered that all 3 machines (in home) give varying results.. 

also the point of application (where the sensor is connected) can dramatically change the results and also it changes from person to person.. correct one is from left arm , at heart level, sitting position and left arm on the table with some pillows to level it..

Three machines Cem.... . Are you a wealthy hypercondriac?....

I had compared the previous 2 with mothers and I concluded that they measure incorrect .. so I bought the 3 one.. most expensive, more than 70 £..(father frequently visits us and stays here so I definitely need something correct)

[Sir Tigger KC]

Going to the Dr's can be stressful for a chap! Especially when they reach for the rubber glove...  

So no wonder your blood pressure is higher at the Drs! At home you can do it in your own time, nice and relaxed with a beer and a fag!! 

[Kevin Wood]

Mine is always off the clock when I'm anywhere near a white coat but perfectly OK if I measure it at home. Doctor has considered my home readings, I've even taken my device in and proven it's accurate and I'm using it correctly. He says nothing to worry about and just has me in for a check every year.

I'm sure he said that, whilst coffee temporarily raises it, there's no need to give it up, just avoid it before taking a  reading.

Different story from the little hitler nurse from my (ex-) life insurance provider who insisted on taking a reading after a thorough interrogation about my life history, gasped when she saw the reading and then said "OK. try to relax and we'll take another one in a few minutes." Yeah, right. They didn't like me flying plastic planes without engines either so were soon dumped.

[Taxi_Driver]

My doc is convinced i've got 'white coat syndrome' 

My BP is usually higher when he takes it, then when i take it home. 

Altho i can get it down slightly when i go to docs, by arriving 10-15mins early and sitting quietly before going in. Racing to to get there at the last minute seems to increase it 

[aaronjb]

I remember them taking my BP the last time I joined a gym (being a fat tinker they like to make sure you're not too likely to croak of a heart attack on their premises) .. as soon as he said it I could feel the veins in my head start throbbing.

The bloke taking the reading looked awfully pale .. I think it was 210/110!

They let me do the induction including 30 minutes of vigorous exercise, and it went down to 130/90.. Which wasn't bad considering I'd just jumped off a treadmill 


Fortunately I can usually remain relatively calm in front of the doc.. although I bet my calm exterior will dissolve the first time he reaches for the gloves & KY.

[pscocoa]

I have discovered that all 3 machines (in home) give varying results.. 

also the point of application (where the sensor is connected) can dramatically change the results and also it changes from person to person.. correct one is from left arm , at heart level, sitting position and left arm on the table with some pillows to level it..

Yes I do left arm, sitting position

[Richie London]

I have a blood pressure monitor and the last time i did a rea ding it was 194 i think jt was. i don't bother doing it now but i am not supposed to drink tea after 4pm to lower my caffeine level. quite hard as i drink about 20 cups a day. I've started back on the ale again recently so have cut down a bit on the tea but the hardest thing is trying to drink 2.5l of water a day to keep my fluidd level high.

[freecall666]

try havin 142/98 at rest. then tell me how you feel.

[symes]

On the ward I worked on I  tried 3 different machines on 1 patient-they all gave different readings in the end went old school-stethoscope and watch. Poor patient thought it quite funny But could have been bad as far as meds went.

[pscocoa]

On the ward I worked on I  tried 3 different machines on 1 patient-they all gave different readings in the end went old school-stethoscope and watch. Poor patient thought it quite funny But could have been bad as far as meds went.

How does that stethoscope system work for blood pressure - I would be interested to know

[cem_devecioglu]

On the ward I worked on I  tried 3 different machines on 1 patient-they all gave different readings in the end went old school-stethoscope and watch. Poor patient thought it quite funny But could have been bad as far as meds went.

How does that stethoscope system work for blood pressure - I would be interested to know

you increase the pressure on the arm say 20 , the you gradually drop the pressure and listen when it comes to resonance (synchron) you will hear heartbeat in 2 points (systolic, diastolic etc)