How Accurate Are Blood Pressure and Health Check Machines?

fureverywhere

fureverywhere

beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
Location
Northern NJ, USA
I don't mean the blood pressure machines and such available for purchase. I mean the machines at pharmacies and supermarkets. I mean I know I see kids playing on them banging buttons while Mami waits in line. You wonder how much upkeep they actually do on those things for the number of people who use them.

I've vowed to stop using them and just relying on the doctor's readings. We were at Stop and Shop tonight and I signed into higi like I usually do. The message I got was chilling...basically if your blood pressure is really this high, sit tight and the paramedics will be there shortly...Dear gawd, just really...

I feel it was just the machine busted, but yeah I'll call the doc tomorrow just to make sure.
 

I heard they aren't all that accurate but I can't remember if it was a doctor who told me that! But I've also heard that if you've just walked across the parking lot into the store, change from outdoor temperature to indoor, bright lights, noise, crowds, and you sit right down at one of those machines, your BP is going to be elevated.
 

I use them whenever I see one if I have the time, I don't have a high blood pressure problem, but sometimes if I'm in a doctor's office I'll get the white suit syndrome and my pressure will read high. If they retake it ten minutes later, it usually comes down. On those store machines, I've gotten normal readings, just did one last week. But I agree, if they're not maintained and abused, they could be broken and give bad numbers. Fur, I can't believe you got a message like that! It sounds like the machine was contacting 911. Hope all is okay with you.
 
I think I have used one of them once in my entire life. I usually have good bp at the doctor's office unless I've eaten a lot of salt in the days before.
 
We have our own BP tester here at the house, but sometimes just for comparison, I will use one at whatever drug store I am in. If it does not come close to what I get at home, I will ask the pharmacy tech behind the counter when the machine was last calibrated. Normally, they don't know and usually it never has been. It is normal that when a machine is calibrated the tester will apply a sticker on the side stating the date of calibration along with his initials.
 
I am generally on the low side of the readings and yet one day got a reading of 170 over 110. Trust those machines, I think not.
 
Described it best noting they can be abused by the public. I don't even trust the bp monitors on fitness equipment at the gym or home for that matter.
 
Thank you everybody...yes Redd that's just about what I got. One of those moments where you stop to quickly consider if all of your affairs are in order...have to pick up RX from the doctor today so I'll get it checked to be sure.
 
Redd said:
I am generally on the low side of the readings and yet one day got a reading of 170 over 110. Trust those machines, I think not.
Click to expand...

We have had one for over a year which we purchased from Boots the chemist Redd.
We have found it to be extremely accurate. Once my blood pressure shot up to 185/110.
My Wife called an ambulance, and the paramedics found that when they came my blood pressure had even gone up a bit to 189/112 so they rushed me to hospital. They gave me medications to bring down the blood pressure and I was put on Losartan to bring my pressure down over time. My blood pressure now is regularly around 133/60 and pulse rate (which the unit also gives) of around 60.
Perhaps the unit saved my life?
I will never know, but my advice is...
Buy one! :cool:
 
I have a home one which I check occasionally, and I occasionally use the ones in the stores as well. They are usually about the same.

The only times my blood pressure was questionable was when I was waiting for my hip surgery for several months and was very stressed out and scared about it, and when I was working and was under horrible stress about impossible deadlines, horrible bosses, etc. I also have a bit of that white coat syndrome that SB talked about.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top