My doctor has advised me to purchase a blood pressure monitor so that I can better monitor my blood pressure. Do pharmacies even stock these or am I better looking online, perhaps even ordering from the UK?
Of course, anyone with one they wish to sell can feel free to contact me.
Thanks.
K-Tipps did a test on them back in 2009.
Only two were accurate - one was a Migros one.
But I suppose things have moved on from then.
In German, they're called a Blutdruckmesser
Not a regular stocked item - when they're gone, they're gone - so availability may vary from store to store.
I got one from Landi, and they too may have a few still knocking about.
Quite a few Dr's use the wrist ones, the important thing is the height which should correspond with the heart. I have both types & don't think there is much in it, wrist ones are smaller so better for travelling.
I took mine to my doctors and the readings were very accurate compared to theirs.
There are a few points to remember -
If you have very small arms or very large arms you can usually obtain a larger cuff. It can make a difference with readings
Wrist cuffs are not as accurate as arm monitors. Also make sure that the cuff is level with your heart.
Don't cross your legs when you take the readings.
If your pressure seems high, it can be because you have not emptied your bladder.
And if you take the readings from each arm ( one day right and next day left) and they do vary by a lot, go and have a word with your doctor.
I would like to know if my blood pressure is considerably lower when at home, because it's always high at the doctor's and it was during my 24-hour monitoring period as well (although that was probably partially due to the fact I couldn't sleep because the blinking thing kept squeezing my arm to within an inch of its life!)
He said I may have to take some light medication, but I want to see if it is lower first at home when I'm completely relaxed before committing myself to medication. I'm too young to be popping pills
If your rate is really too high you should take medication regardless of your age. Taking exercise and having a BMI below 25 is a good place to start from.
Second time: 140/90
Lowest I've been was 139/90 as far as I can recall. But I can safely say it rises even with the thought of going to doctors
I'm not overweight, exercise regularly (mainly cycling, 3 to 4 nights a week) and don't have any other health issues. One thing, my dad has high pressure, and it is apparently hereditary. Doc said what concerns him is that the bottom number is always high...
I had to start taking pills, but I'm 54 and my parents failed to mention that high BP runs in the family (was feeling weird a year or so ago, upper was 230 or abouts).
My wife's cousins also take pills, and are even fitter that I (one climbs trees for a living), so fitness is only one component.
Also, after dinner my BP drops like a stone. When I last did some 24h test, BP was highest when at the dentist (and when working on my motorcycles)!
Tom
The important thing is to use the same device every time and to measure your blood pressure at approximately the same time every day. Ideally measure it when you first wake up in the morning and again in the evening. As FMF says take it every day for a month and keep a record of the readings.
It's not unusual for the 'white coat effect' to cause higher readings at the doctor's surgery but normally the 24 hour readings give a more accurate picture (even if you think the cuff inflating at night has an effect) and if that gives a high reading too then the doctor is wise to do more checks.
It is possible that there is a hereditary aspect to your hypertension. There is a condition called 'essential hypertension' which is basically inherited and causes high blood pressure in young fit people. It's not something that can be prevented by diet or exercise but can easily be controlled by drugs.
My OH was diagnosed with essential hypertension at a routine medical exam before he started a new job aged 30. He inherited it from his father but had no idea about it until then. As a result his family was also checked out and his younger sister who was only 24 at the time was also found to have it but his two brothers don't. Both he and his sister have been taking medication since then without any problems. It's better to be diagnosed early and get treatment than to let it go and have more serious health problems later on.
Wow, 230! How were you still functioning?
She takes a low dose of blood pressure tablets to keep it in check.
I would definitely go back and have a chat and also that he knows that you take the pill. My daughter is not allowed to take it.
But mainly don't worry because it will make you stressed and as Belgium Mum said - White Coat Syndrome is very common .
Your blood pressure actually is higher in the morning and goes down during the day so maybe take it in the evening when you are relaxed.