Blood pressure monitor

I am 31 yrs old and have been diagnosed with high blood pressure 5 years ago. Recent ECG revealed I have LVH. I am currently on Cozaar 50 mg. My blood pressure is under control since taking the med. I am planning to monitor my blood pressure at home. Is it wise to buy a digital monitor for ease of use? I currently have a mercury sphygmomanometer but i find it hard to use for constant monitoring. Can someone vouch for the accuracy of digital monitors as compared to the mercury ones?

[Toneman]

I have used a digital monitor since being diagnosed with high blood pressure 3 years ago. I know most people will tell you that a wrist cuff is not as accurate as an arm cuff, but there is one that many doctors reccommend (as a matter of fact, it is the only wrist unit on the list of reccommended blood pressure monitors published by the British Hypertensive Society).  I have this monitor as it was reccommended by my doctor, its the Omron HEM 637. The problem with wrist cuffs is that they must be located directly at the level of your heart to be accurate. This monitor has a built in sensor that will prevent the unit from taking a reading until it is in the proper location. It also stores your 90 most recent readings and can be downloaded if you want to keep a record of your past readings. This unit also displays a graph of your readings so you can see your trend during the day and at night.

I have taken my monitor to both my doctor and cardiologist to have it checked for accuracy and it has always been right on, matching the reading of their mercury units. I have been very happy with this monitor, its very accurate and extremely easy to use.

I hope this helps, good luck!

Tony

[anacyde]

Digital home monitors aren't great.  They frequently give false numbers.  If you've got the standard one, use it.

[Buaidh No Bas]

The best thing to do would be to discuss this with your cardiologist. And,as eluded to in the first post, if you do purchase a digital cuff, have it;s accuracy checked regularly at your doctors, or if you are fairly proficient with the manual reader, check it's accuracy yourself every once in a while.

Offhandedly dismissing digital all readers as inaccurate is both incorrect and irresponsible, IMO.


BNB