Blood Pressure Monitors

Has anyone used or does anyone still use a blood pressure monitor, the sort that wraps around the wrist? I have just be sent one but there are no instructions, all I need to know is does the monitor go on the outside or inside of the wrist. I have tried both and there are definite differences. The outside gives a higher reading than the inside.....

The monitor I have been sent is from Boots so I have emailled them, also looked on the Boots Thailand site and it doesn't look like they sell them.

Any ideas

Has it got a model number on it??

It goes on the inside of the wrist,as high as possible without encroaching on the hand. Fasten it with the Velcro as tight as you can.

The monitor is placed on the palm side of your wrist, because the sensor is below the monitor. Lot of people complain the accuracy of a wrist BP monitor. IMHO it's quite accurate as long as you keep consistent position when using it, ie. sit upright with the monitor at heart level.

hi chriss,
i have one but it is not really wrist type, i think same system only apply more high at your arm ,anyway maybe this also helps you out...

maybe also use full....,sorry not so clear but i think can do ....

Next question. Which arm?
Reason I ask, my Father was in hospital last week. They discovered he had normal BP in one arm and high in the other.

21again wrote:Has it got a model number on it??

I agree with 21 this is the place to start. The Boots site shows quite a few different models. I would find the exact one that matches the one you have & then make note of exactly what it is called & then advanced Google search for 'instruction manual for Boots Intellisense Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor' - for example.
There will be a frustrating large number of sites come up that are trying to sell you the product rather than giving details on how to use it, but you will find some help with a little patience - like this site I found on the second page of results on the above query.

http://bloodpressurequestions.org/blood ... ing-sensor

Thanks all, I was hoping it was inside of the wrist, the outside figures would have sent me straight to the doctor... I have hypertension which is medicated (thats why the monitor was sent to me) and I agree I'm not sure these monitors are 100% accurate but a very good indicator that all is or isn't well..
Thanks again.

I see Bobs link shows the monitor placed on the top (thumb side) edge of the wrist, maybe its just this particular model...

Chriss wrote:I see Bobs link shows the monitor placed on the top (thumb side) edge of the wrist, maybe its just this particular model...

Yes Chriss that is why it is important that you find the instruction for your exact model....

Hi,
According to the one i use. You put it on the left wrist while sitting upright in a chair and your arm, from elbow to hand parallel (excuse spelling) to to floor. On a table.
I find mine verry good and accurate. When i first got it 7 years ago, took it down to my doctor. Got him to do my B.P. with his, and then checked with mine, both the same.
Do not use when just done work, running, or after sex. Doctors words. I do mine every day at the same time. It keeps a record of the last 30 reading, if you want, and displays them in the form of a graph.
The most awkward thing i found on mine was setting the date and time. Had to get wife's 8 year old daughter to do it.
The instructions are on the inside of the lid that covers the display.
It also has what the readings mean.
Normal Systolic Less than 130. Diastolic Less than85.
High Normal " 130 to 139 " 85 to 89
Hypertension " More than140 " More than 90.
Forgot to say it also gives pulse rate.

I have got a Boot's one, had it 10years. It always gives a lower reading than the one they use in AEK though . I put that down to all those nubile nurses in their little white socks.

trubrit wrote:. I put that down to all those nubile nurses in their little white socks.

Whatever rocks your boat TB.

Ok, there are quite a few urban myths floating around about BP and where to take it, whats the best monitor , and are prices an indicator of a better unit etc.

Blood Pressure is the measurement of pressure - Cardiac Output ( blood from your left side of your heart) against the peripheral resitance of the blood vessels - so if your cholesterol is high, the veins are smaller in diameter therefore the heart must work harder to pump the blood through, thus ur BP is higher. BP is a measurement of the pressure to overtake the Aortic valve at the L Ventricle to eject blood into an already full aorta ( known as systolic pressure ) and the resting pressure left after a ventricular contraction is called diastolic pressure. The measurement is in milli metres of mercury, and should be read at sea level for 100% accuracy .

Most hospitals / clinics will take ur BP over your brachial artery at the cubital fossa region ( elbow ) why, well the artery is easier to palpate and u also need to take the BP in the same place for consistency etc its easier etc

Now the " wrist " readings will be different as the blood flow to the radial artery in the wrist has longer to go, thus the pressure will drop off slightly , can be by 10 mm HG !

In medicine , we take a radial pulse and we know its over 80 mm Hg, if its gone, its below 80 mm Hg, so u then test the brachial artery , and if the pulse cant be found then, the systolic BP is less than 70 mmHg. We dont take BP is a major trauma patient immediately, we use this rule of thumb !

The 2nd issue for the wrist monitors is the radial artery is protected by the radius bone, and can be a little harder for then sensor to pick up.

So when u go to your local clinic / hospital for your BP the amazing thing to ask the staff is " When did u last calibrate your BP Cuff " they wil look at you in suprise, shock and Horror ! . If its a hospital based electronic unit, it will or should have a bio medical sticker to say its been done within the last 6 months.

I did a medical research project years ago on mannual BP cuffs in the ambulance service. Both fitted units in the vehicle and the hand held portable units that the Paramedics use on the road in all sorts of environments and they get dropped, smashed etc regularly.

There was from memory a difference of up to 30 mmHg which means that many drugs that have BP limitations were still being used ! due to the error margins etc

Every mannual BP cuff still needs to be calibrated against a mercury unit, to ensure its accurate and I bet ur local Dr doesnt do it or even know how to do it.

Thats why ur local clinic / hospitals will have different readings . Its not the NUrse ! its the BP cuff they carry !