October 2007
Blood-pressure monitors
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is called "the silent killer" for good reason. It generally shows no obvious symptoms
until its damage is done. Over time, it attacks vital organs, sharply increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart and
kidney failure, as well as cognitive difficulties and memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, and possibly even osteoporosis.
The disorder has reached virtually epidemic proportions in the U.S. Full-blown hypertension afflicts roughly 30 percent of the American adult population. And another 37 percent have borderline hypertension, or "prehypertension" as it is more commonly referred to today. Having prehypertension is now considered more dangerous than it has been previously.
Sadly, an estimated 65 percent of those who have hypertension do not have the condition under control. Studies have shown that many doctors fail to diagnose hypertension and treat it with the most effective non-drug measures and medications. Even when doctors do recommend proper treatments, studies have shown that patients often lack the motivation to comply with the prescribed regimen.
Why monitor blood pressure at home? Home monitoring with a blood-pressure monitor is essential not only for most people with well-documented hypertension, but also for many with prehypertension. (See the accompanying "What's high blood pressure?" chart.) It can help provide the necessary motivation to adhere to diet and exercise in order to rein in this rampant disorder and also increase compliance if you are taking medication. It can let your physician fine-tune your drug regimen. And it can help identify "white-coat hypertension"—an elevated reading triggered by anxiety in the doctor's office. (Our medical consultants say that such elevations probably warrant concern, since they may indicate that blood pressure rises outside the doctor's office when in a stressful situation.)
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Home blood-pressure monitors come in these basic types:
Automatic arm monitors. You wrap a cuff around your upper arm and press a button that causes it to inflate and automatically read your blood pressure and pulse. Results appear digitally on a small screen, usually separate from the cuff.
Manual arm monitors. Also called semi-automatics, they work similarly, except that you must squeeze a bulb to pump up the cuff.
Wrist monitors. A cuff wraps around your wrist, like a wristwatch, You then activate it to inflate and automatically read your blood pressure and pulse, and it provides digital readouts on a screen attached to the cuff.
HOW TO CHOOSE
The last time we tested them several years ago (new testing is currently under way), automatic arm monitors provided consistent readings. We think they're the best choice for most people.
Comfort and convenience are the main advantages of wrist models. Though the cuffs inflate to the same pressure as most arm cuffs, pressure on the wrist is less uncomfortable. But when we last evaluated these, the models we tested were generally less consistent than the arm models.
For large arms. A typical monitors' cuff should fit most people. However, people with a large arm circumference may have to order a large cuff at extra cost. Measure your arm circumference and read the size information on the package before purchasing.
If you have irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia. Before you buy, see the manufacturer's instructions or packaging to make sure the device can be used with that condition.
Calibrate your monitor. Soon after you buy it, have your doctor check its accuracy against a professional model so you can return it if necessary. And have it checked every six months after that. If you drop the device or if the readings change abruptly, have it checked again.
The disorder has reached virtually epidemic proportions in the U.S. Full-blown hypertension afflicts roughly 30 percent of the American adult population. And another 37 percent have borderline hypertension, or "prehypertension" as it is more commonly referred to today. Having prehypertension is now considered more dangerous than it has been previously.
Sadly, an estimated 65 percent of those who have hypertension do not have the condition under control. Studies have shown that many doctors fail to diagnose hypertension and treat it with the most effective non-drug measures and medications. Even when doctors do recommend proper treatments, studies have shown that patients often lack the motivation to comply with the prescribed regimen.
Why monitor blood pressure at home? Home monitoring with a blood-pressure monitor is essential not only for most people with well-documented hypertension, but also for many with prehypertension. (See the accompanying "What's high blood pressure?" chart.) It can help provide the necessary motivation to adhere to diet and exercise in order to rein in this rampant disorder and also increase compliance if you are taking medication. It can let your physician fine-tune your drug regimen. And it can help identify "white-coat hypertension"—an elevated reading triggered by anxiety in the doctor's office. (Our medical consultants say that such elevations probably warrant concern, since they may indicate that blood pressure rises outside the doctor's office when in a stressful situation.)
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Home blood-pressure monitors come in these basic types:
Automatic arm monitors. You wrap a cuff around your upper arm and press a button that causes it to inflate and automatically read your blood pressure and pulse. Results appear digitally on a small screen, usually separate from the cuff.
Manual arm monitors. Also called semi-automatics, they work similarly, except that you must squeeze a bulb to pump up the cuff.
Wrist monitors. A cuff wraps around your wrist, like a wristwatch, You then activate it to inflate and automatically read your blood pressure and pulse, and it provides digital readouts on a screen attached to the cuff.
HOW TO CHOOSE
The last time we tested them several years ago (new testing is currently under way), automatic arm monitors provided consistent readings. We think they're the best choice for most people.
Comfort and convenience are the main advantages of wrist models. Though the cuffs inflate to the same pressure as most arm cuffs, pressure on the wrist is less uncomfortable. But when we last evaluated these, the models we tested were generally less consistent than the arm models.
For large arms. A typical monitors' cuff should fit most people. However, people with a large arm circumference may have to order a large cuff at extra cost. Measure your arm circumference and read the size information on the package before purchasing.
If you have irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia. Before you buy, see the manufacturer's instructions or packaging to make sure the device can be used with that condition.
Calibrate your monitor. Soon after you buy it, have your doctor check its accuracy against a professional model so you can return it if necessary. And have it checked every six months after that. If you drop the device or if the readings change abruptly, have it checked again.
