Can a home-based blood pressure monitor be reliable?
A blood pressure monitor can be a helpful and accurate method of checking your blood pressure without the hassle of going to the doctor’s office, if it is used correctly. When buying a blood pressure monitor, there are a few items to take into consideration when choosing the right blood pressure monitor for you. In particular, it is important to find a monitor that is both accurate and reliable. Other factors to take into consideration is the cost of the unit and the ease of use.
Although having a blood pressure monitor at your home can be convenient, it is important to not sacrifice the accuracy of the measurements. The unit must provide a measurement that would be the same as one you would receive at the hospital. Fortunately, many of the manufacturers that make the blood pressure monitors supplied to hospitals are beginning to make home units.
One of the drawbacks of using a blood pressure monitor at home is that there will generally not be an experienced staff to help the user, which could impact the accuracy of the readings. For example, a blood pressure reading can be impacted by the position of the unit on the arm in relation to the heart. For example, if the unit is located above the heart on the arm, the reading will be lower than the actual reading. On the other hand, if the unit is placed on the arm below the heart, the reading will be higher than the actual reading. Another common mistake home users do is that they will attempt to use their own muscles to elevate the arm. If the muscles within the arm are being used while the blood pressure measurement is being performed, this could also impact the accuracy of the readings.
In order to confirm the readings of a home based system are providing a reliable reading, there are some steps that are recommended. When the user is still getting used to the monitor, it is recommended to take readings 3 times in the morning and another 3 in the evening. Each of these sets of reading should be averaged to provide the reading that will be documented. this method also provides the ability to see if there are any readings that are much higher or lower than the others. If all readings taken within a given period are about the same, this should provide a bit of confidence to the user about the readings.
In summary, a home based blood pressure monitor can be a convenient method to maintain proper health. However, there are a few items to take into consideration in order to ensure an accurate reading. The blood pressure monitor must be reliable and the user must follow the proper directions to ensure the monitor provides an accurate reading. Without the assistance from a trained hospital staff, a home user must take certain precautions to ensure an accurate blood pressure reading.
























