Which can you trust?
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
I've got a computerised one at home, but I'd be more inclined to trust my doctor's reading over it. From my understanding, the mecury based ones are more accurate than the mechanical ones. However, if your computerised one is accurate, you'd probably want to be more concerned about hypotension (I think that's what it is called), where the blood pressure is too low!
------------------------ Luke Lovegrove ------------------------
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I've got a computerised one at home, but I'd be more inclined to trust my doctor's reading over it. From my understanding, the mecury based ones are more accurate than the mechanical ones. However, if your computerised one is accurate, you'd probably want to be more concerned about hypotension (I think that's what it is called), where the blood pressure is too low!
------------------------ Luke Lovegrove ------------------------
Luke Lovegrove wrote:
mecury based ones are more accurate than the mechanical ones.
That was my inclination, too, except that the people who take the readings are only human and don't always pay close attention. And there's always the reaction time variable which entirely automated systems eliminate.
Luke Lovegrove wrote:
the blood pressure is too low!
That concern has been raised and discounted by several doctors throughout my life. When I was young, I did a lot of meditation, and the docs were satisfied that I was doing well by practicing it, as its positive effect on high blood pressure is well documented. In my old age, martial arts practice seems to have had a beneficial effect in keeping the readings lower than normal for my years. I work with a bunch who are obese, diabetic, and suffer from hypertension, all of whom are much younger than I am. As long as there continues to be no symptoms of hypotension, I consider myself very fortunate. :)
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Well, according to my Dad's cardiologist and pulmonarists, they prefer to use the mercury based ones to measure their patient's blood pressure because they are accurate unlike their digital counterparts. Of course, being an Engineer myself and very much engrossed in the technology I find that a personal insult no matter how true it might be! On another note, you should get some salt in your diet man! I mean 120/85 is NORMAL 105/68 is on the low side unless you are very fit. Check this out: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/medicine/blood-pressure.htm[^] You might want to get your low blood pressure checked man.
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Well, according to my Dad's cardiologist and pulmonarists, they prefer to use the mercury based ones to measure their patient's blood pressure because they are accurate unlike their digital counterparts. Of course, being an Engineer myself and very much engrossed in the technology I find that a personal insult no matter how true it might be! On another note, you should get some salt in your diet man! I mean 120/85 is NORMAL 105/68 is on the low side unless you are very fit. Check this out: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/medicine/blood-pressure.htm[^] You might want to get your low blood pressure checked man.
Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
You might want to get your low blood pressure checked man.
I have - repeatedly. No worries, according to the docs. It just means I'm going to outlive everyone I know. Apparently a diet of meat, coffee, alcohol, and chain smoking is a lot healthier than the USDA would like us to believe. When I came to after surgery a year ago to remove a burst appendix the surgeon told me, " if you weren't in such fantastic shape, this would have gone a lot worse. It's unfortunate that the recovery took so long that I lost the habit of going to the gym three times a week, and tae kwon do practice and teaching the other four... I'm trying, but it's really hard to get back into the discipline.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
You might want to get your low blood pressure checked man.
I have - repeatedly. No worries, according to the docs. It just means I'm going to outlive everyone I know. Apparently a diet of meat, coffee, alcohol, and chain smoking is a lot healthier than the USDA would like us to believe. When I came to after surgery a year ago to remove a burst appendix the surgeon told me, " if you weren't in such fantastic shape, this would have gone a lot worse. It's unfortunate that the recovery took so long that I lost the habit of going to the gym three times a week, and tae kwon do practice and teaching the other four... I'm trying, but it's really hard to get back into the discipline.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
It must mean that with all the crap that you pump into your system (don't worry, I'm MUCH worse) you're still quite fit (unlike flabby ol'me who's worried poopyless about losing weight) Count your blessings and keep it up man.
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It must mean that with all the crap that you pump into your system (don't worry, I'm MUCH worse) you're still quite fit (unlike flabby ol'me who's worried poopyless about losing weight) Count your blessings and keep it up man.
Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
Count your blessings and keep it up man.
I will, and I'll say something nice at your grave if you don't do something to change your ways into something less self-destructive. I've been watching you, and consider you to be one of the brighter stars in our CP firmament; I'd hate to lose you early. Get your flabby ass into a gym before its too late (actually, it's never too late, but the older you get, the longer it takes for your body to respond.) The most embarassing and humiliating event I can remember in my life was the first time I walked into the gym. Five-foot six, 130 lbs, surrounded by Chippendales wannabes... Crap, I was intimidated. I got through it, though, by reminding myself that all of those freaks who live at the gym were probably 90 lb weaklings who bought the Charles Atlas books from the back pages of comic books. I got over it in short order, and you will, too. And you'll make a few new good friends at the gym. You're so young - Get your flabby self up off the couch and do something - anything - physical, before your health starts to collapse. It sneaks up on you, and happens suddenly if you're not watching for it. Get moving, get healthy. Motion is the key to health, I believe...
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
Count your blessings and keep it up man.
I will, and I'll say something nice at your grave if you don't do something to change your ways into something less self-destructive. I've been watching you, and consider you to be one of the brighter stars in our CP firmament; I'd hate to lose you early. Get your flabby ass into a gym before its too late (actually, it's never too late, but the older you get, the longer it takes for your body to respond.) The most embarassing and humiliating event I can remember in my life was the first time I walked into the gym. Five-foot six, 130 lbs, surrounded by Chippendales wannabes... Crap, I was intimidated. I got through it, though, by reminding myself that all of those freaks who live at the gym were probably 90 lb weaklings who bought the Charles Atlas books from the back pages of comic books. I got over it in short order, and you will, too. And you'll make a few new good friends at the gym. You're so young - Get your flabby self up off the couch and do something - anything - physical, before your health starts to collapse. It sneaks up on you, and happens suddenly if you're not watching for it. Get moving, get healthy. Motion is the key to health, I believe...
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Preach it, brother! Amen! :-D
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^] -
An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Not that I am an expert but I do work with medical data daily and the reading from your electrical meter is way too low! Are you making sure that you have the meter, around your wrist/arm, raised to the same level as your heart when you use it? Blood pressure is not necessarily the best clinical indicator of health, also it tends to be traditional to take three readings each time. The 120/85 reading actually sounds ok (fairly normal blood pressure) - one factor to bear in mind is that some meters are better than others in terms of accuracy (money does tend to come into it).
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
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Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
Count your blessings and keep it up man.
I will, and I'll say something nice at your grave if you don't do something to change your ways into something less self-destructive. I've been watching you, and consider you to be one of the brighter stars in our CP firmament; I'd hate to lose you early. Get your flabby ass into a gym before its too late (actually, it's never too late, but the older you get, the longer it takes for your body to respond.) The most embarassing and humiliating event I can remember in my life was the first time I walked into the gym. Five-foot six, 130 lbs, surrounded by Chippendales wannabes... Crap, I was intimidated. I got through it, though, by reminding myself that all of those freaks who live at the gym were probably 90 lb weaklings who bought the Charles Atlas books from the back pages of comic books. I got over it in short order, and you will, too. And you'll make a few new good friends at the gym. You're so young - Get your flabby self up off the couch and do something - anything - physical, before your health starts to collapse. It sneaks up on you, and happens suddenly if you're not watching for it. Get moving, get healthy. Motion is the key to health, I believe...
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
I really should and will. I've been working on my food intake (and quality) for the past several months and that has improved dramatically. The second phase is to get off of my ass and actually go to the gym or at least have daily walks.
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I really should and will. I've been working on my food intake (and quality) for the past several months and that has improved dramatically. The second phase is to get off of my ass and actually go to the gym or at least have daily walks.
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Not that I am an expert but I do work with medical data daily and the reading from your electrical meter is way too low! Are you making sure that you have the meter, around your wrist/arm, raised to the same level as your heart when you use it? Blood pressure is not necessarily the best clinical indicator of health, also it tends to be traditional to take three readings each time. The 120/85 reading actually sounds ok (fairly normal blood pressure) - one factor to bear in mind is that some meters are better than others in terms of accuracy (money does tend to come into it).
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
GuyThiebaut wrote:
some meters are better than others in terms of accuracy (money does tend to come into it).
That was my thought... You usually get what you pay for, and a bargain often isn't. :)
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I really should and will. I've been working on my food intake (and quality) for the past several months and that has improved dramatically. The second phase is to get off of my ass and actually go to the gym or at least have daily walks.
Walking is great, and it's not nearly as intimidating as the gym. It's also an excellent way to get to know your neighborhood far better than you'll ever know it from inside a car. :-D
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Electronic types tend to read about 5mm higher apparently. Your pressure sounds low, is the doctor OK about it?
Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.
Higher? I thought it was reading low. The low bp is okay with the docs, btw, but in the office it never reads as low as this little machine. I'll be concerned if it ever approaches the so-called normal reading, as that means something is changing, and not for the better. :)
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing.
I have a real-life example of that from a week ago. I went to the doctor, while I waited in the room they hooked me up to a blood pressure monitor that averages every two minutes. The first reading was a bit high, every one of the next 5 readings was lower and lower and back in the normal range. That is until the last reading; the monitor had just started pumping up the cuff when I heard the doctor grabbing my chart outside the room. That last reading was higher than all of them and prompted the doctor to comment that we'll have to start watching my blood pressure. Until he looked at the other readings, that is. Cheers, Drew.
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
If I remember correctly, the problem with the electronic meters is that they don't measure deep enough and thus are more subject to interference.
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery
... and a low-cut blouse. That helps; it takes my mind away from what's going on. :-D
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Roger Wright wrote:
An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery
... and a low-cut blouse. That helps; it takes my mind away from what's going on. :-D
I like the way you're thinking... :-D
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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An old fashioned, manually-operated sphygmomanometer in the hands of a disinterested nurse with a stethoscope on your brachial artery, or a modern, computerized, cuff-mounted blood pressure meter? I recently bought one of the latter and it consistently gives readings lower than the nurses usually report on the rare occasions I see a doctor. The manual refers to what is called "white-coat hypertension" - that observed phenomenon that is caused by the nervousness resulting from visiting a doctor's office. But I wonder how much of that is science, and how much marketing. Not that I'm worried about it - the highest I've ever recorded was 120/85, and that was minutes before my appendix burst in the hospital after spending three days in agony while doctors mulled over why I might have a belly ache. Normal in-office readings for me tend to be around 105/68, if I've had a cigarette recently. But this new toy is giving readings of 96/58 resting, and 84/56 after a few dozen pushups (though the pulse rate did jump up some to 96 bpm). I doubt that hypertension is likely to be a problem for me in the near future. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried one of these things, and maybe knows more about their accuracy than I. Any input?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
"white-coat hypertension"
Many years ago - in land far away, I had to get a company medical. As usual, the good looking young nurse did all the workup. When it was time for the blood pressure, she put the cuff on my arm and then pulled it between her ample breasts while she wiggled around taking the reading. When the doctor eventually came in, the first thing he did was get out the cuff. I tried to tell him that the nurse had already taken my blood pressure. His reply in a disgusted voice was; "Yeah, but she doesn't know how to do it, she always gets high readings". My dilemma - explain why she got high reading and ruin it for the next guy or keep quiet and perhaps cause harm to the nurse’s career? I chose keeping quiet in the hopes that it would be an annual exam!
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