How Reliable Are Drugstore Blood Pressure Monitors?

In this article, I'll tell you how reliable they are and exactly why this is the case. I'll also tell you about superior ways of obtaining reliable and accurate b.p. readings.

The answer is, unfortunately, "not very reliable". The typical drugstore blood pressure monitor is a device where you place a finger or thumb onto a button. These are good for measuring your pulse but are notoriously inaccurate for measuring your blood pressure.

You simply cannot get a good reading via the thumb or fingers. You won't find any monitor like this inside a hospital, a doctor's surgery or any other medical establishment. An accurate monitor will measure via the upper arm (ideally) or the wrist. That is because the upper arm contains the brachial artery which can be used to make an accurate determination.

The second reason why they do not give good readings is because you typically stand to get a reading. To get an accurate reading you need to be sitting and at rest for a few minutes. Your legs should not be crossed and the point on your body from where the reading is obtained needs to be at the same level as your heart. As you can now see, the typical drugstore blood pressure monitor does not do this!

How To Get A Reliable Reading

Even an occasional visit to your doctor is not good enough if you want reliable and accurate readings. That is because many people experience "white coat syndrome" which means that they get readings that are too high or too low when they are in the presence of a doctor. Also, your b.p. fluctuates during the day by quite a lot so you need to obtain several readings and take an average.

The best way to get reliable readings is to buy your own monitor. Frankly, every house should have one because it is the only way to know for sure if you have high b.p. or not.

Get my free tips to naturally cure your high blood pressure without any debilitating drugs here: Blood Pressure Tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Cage

Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

Introducing the Panasonic EW3122S Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor (Silver)

From the reviews I have seen, the Panasonic EW3122S has got to be the best Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor on the market.




The large LCD panel shows both blood pressure readings and pulse rate simultaneously. The three-color confirming system clearly displays your blood pressure in color-coded numbers that are clear and easy to read. After use, the monitor turns off with one touch and the cuff easily rolls up and fits into the built-in cuff storage case in the main body of the device, for added convenience. The Panasonic EW3122S Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor comes with four AA Alkaline batteries which are also included. An AC adaptor and large cuff are also available as optional accessories.

How it Works
The DFT (Digital Filter Technology) uses a sensor to detect and isolate only the essential pulse oscillation, which helps eliminate other noise factors and leads to quick and reliable measurements. This also helps avoid over-tightening of the cuff. The monitor lights up if you are moving during a reading, alerting you to the fact that your reading will not proceed unless you stop moving. The automatic memory feature allows you to capture save readings for two different individuals, making it easy to keep track of your results.

The Color Confirmation System
Thanks to the color confirmation system, it's easy to read and interpret your results. The monitor uses a three color light system to indicate if your reading falls in the hypertension, pre-hypertension or normal range. For the Systolic measurement, red indicates hypertension (over 140); yellow indicates pre-hypertension (130-139); and green indicates readings in the normal range (under 129).


Product Description
The "DFT" Digital Filter Technology uses a sensor to detect and isolate only the essential pulse oscillation. It helps eliminate other noise factors, leading to quick and reliable measurement capability. This also helps avoid over-tightening of the cuff on the wrist.The monitor lights up if you are moving during a reading, alerting you to the fact that your reading will not proceed unless you stop moving.The Automatic Memory Feature Saves your Readings and allows you to capture 84 readings (42 memory readings x 2 persons) and save them to track the readings over time.The cuff easily folds into the built-in storage case for added convenience. The Color Confirmation System Helps You Understand Your Readings, the monitor uses a 3-color light system to indicate if your reading falls in the Hypertension, Prehypertension or Normal Range: Systolic - Red: Hypertension (over 140),Yellow: Prehypertension (130-139),Green: Normal (under 129)

Click here to Buy the Panasonic EW3122S Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor today. Also comes with Free Shipping!!

Review courtesy of Amazon.com