My dad got one of those automated electronic ones which are now quite cheap and easy to use.
I never understood until today what the numbers even meant.
basically this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n01wAPHDeGA&t=68s
The exact data is not so important but using the same device which then show the differences is more informative.
The legs crossed bit was interesting, I didn’t know it generally hightens the blood pressure. While when I measure it is about the only time ever that I sit on a chair properly the rest of the time I literally wrap my legs around each other when I sit (no idea why I started doing this decades ago). People who notice it try to copy and can’t.
You mean over the knee and then then ankle goes by the other ankle? I used to do that as a kid, but I’m too fat to manage that now.
I was assuming they meant with the ankle all the way around behind the other ankle. Just checked, yeah I can still do that.
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That’s how I usually sit too.
It’s apparently quite bad for you but I find it really comfortable.
Agree, but the point is that if we want to compare the result to the standard values we should use the standard method to take the readings.
I like the advice to let the body rest before the procedure. I’ve decided to start taking blood pressure regularly again, but this time I’m reading a book at the table for ~10 minutes before taking it. It’s amazing, the readings are pretty consistent so far (flat graph).
Er, my balls get in the way. Not comfortable, I’m sorry I tried!
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When sitting on the office chair, I also have a bad habit of crawling under the chair with my legs, keeping my feet on the castor supports, which always leads to tension in my back.
I’ve seen those advertised and was wondering if they actually worked.
They were developed in Neuchâtel.
this.
Nope, on your picture the foot does not go behind the ankle and it’s the leg that goes over the knee which then puts it’s foot behind the ankle. And there is no distance between the legs, you can’t get a piece of paper between mine.
Yes, I guess they would. Specially my way. As on Medea’s picture should be doable though.
Folks, it is not.recommendable.to.sit.like.that. I was told to cut it out. So only try it to see how flexible you are, then drop it again 
edit: there you go:
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They do work, there are at least 5 clinical studies that have evaluated their effectiveness and they are CE marked which is a pretty stringent regulatory assessment. I can see for example that my blood pressure during sleep is low but from 8am it starts to climb to about 130/90.
The actual device is nothing new, the same technology is used in heart rate monitors, its the processing of the data by their propriety algorithm which allows detailed info on blood pressure to be generated.
P.S the Aktiia kit also includes a regular Bluetooth BP cuff monitor that is used to calibrate the bracelet every 30 days.
I’m not judging their accuracy (they have done clinical trials) but the CE mark (a IIa type device in the case of this product) has no connection with the product’s accuracy - this is not a factor in compliance.
The mark only shows that it is environmentally safe, electrical safe and that the user will suffer no ill effects from wearing the device for up to 30 days.
Basically, there’s no risk in wearing the device.
A Class 1m device requires a technical file showing accuracy compliance - devices which have a measuring function such as thermometers and weighing scales fall into this category.
I’m not an expert on this but as the Attika device does not actually get inserted into the body and nor does it pass an electrical current through the body, I wonder why they chose to go for Class IIa certification rather than class Im?
Playing devil’s advocate, I’d assume it was because it’s just so much cheaper to show that something is safe rather than showing it is safe, and proving it is accurate.
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that’s not right, if you’ve ever worked with signal processing / data acquisition, you’d never wrote it. The signals the devices look at is very noisy, inaccurate, so what they mainly deal with in the algorithm is how to sift out the outliers from the right data using statistical methods which are very hard to fine tune so most likely the reading relies on trend (past measurements). Recently there’s an abundance of such wrist gadgets which can show you so much cardio details thanks to ML (machine learning algorithms (aka AI) which has been trained to aggressively discard or adjust dubious data). Sure, I believe you that the device is not bad, but it definitely gives far less certainty compared to a good classic upper arm measurement.
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Sure, pressure cuff is the gold standard of BP recording. However what the bracelet does is take regular, inconspicuous readings throughout the day and night (where BP normally fluctuates) so you can see trends a lot better. It also gets ordinary people interested in this topic since for many, sustained high BP is a silent killer without symptoms.
P.S There are rumours that Apple will be including BP in this years Apple Watch model, in which case I will switch to that. They have the money and huge data pool to further refine and improve the tech.
Although it does mean that any of them will actually do anything about it !
Bathroom scales which show weight have been in people’s homes for one hundred years.
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I have quite advanced Huawei smartwatch, with EKG etc. Looks pretty impressive, but honestly I use it just to read the time. I don’t even bother to click a button to register any workout. Bought it because of the same reason as mentioned above, huge data pool to fine tune the ML algorithms as there’s no data protection inside China.
Why did you buy a watch with lots of features if you only use it to tell the time?
Well I use my phone to tell me the time. My watch relays my Blood Glucose level.