Dont go higher and higher (Boots Blood Pressure Monitor)

Member Name: fairdonion

Product:	Boots Blood Pressure Monitor
Date:	25/09/05 (1392 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: more relaxed at home so more accurate readings

Disadvantages: price, although may get it cheaper on the internet, I dont know.

It is only when you are told that your blood pressure is too high or too low that you even give thought to this problem or at least it was then with me.

Your heart is like a pump to circulate blood round your body.

Blood pressure is the force needed for the heart to push blood through the arteries. The highest pressure in the cycle is when the heart contracts and is called Systolic or easier, the top reading of your blood pressure and the highest number shown and should normally be up to 140.

The lower reading is diastolic, the reading between contractions when the heart relaxes and blood flows into it and is lowest. This is up to 90 mmhg.

Once you know these readings you can take your own readings with this machine.

Once you have high blood pressure it cannot usually be cured only controlled.

The doctor can give you tablets which you take one a day for a long time!

A lot of people like me, although I like my doctor and I am used to going down and having my blood pressure taken get a bit nervous and then the reading isnt the proper one.

This is where a monitor comes in useful as you can do it at home and be relaxed which is great. You will find it easier to do it at the same time of day whenever and howoften you do it. You must not have a drink for at least 30 minutes before or exercise or be in anyway stressed.

You might think that £90 is a lot of money for this monitor but if you feel happier knowing that your blood pressure is not rising it doesnt matter about the money!

We got it for £40 in boots but that is because boots had marked it £40 not £90 and when they checked that it was displayed at £40 we were told, and hey who are we to argue, that their policy in that case is to let the customer have it at the marked price!

To use you need to put in two AAA batteries. Make sure you have no watch or bracelet on your left arm. Roll up your sleeve or better still be prepared and wear sleeveless. Wrap the cuff round your left wrist with your palm facing upwards. Hold your arm across your chest so that it is level with your heart.

Switch on and press start and the monitor inflates the cuff automatically to about 180 mmgh. The monitor will then start to work and measure your blood pressure. While this is happening you must keep still, dont move and more to the point dont talk.

The heart symbol will begin to flash. Then the readings will be displayed.

You can store this reading in the machines memory. Dont forget to turn it off.

If your reading is "odd" do it again before panicking as the batteries could be low etc if high see your doctor which of course if you know you have high blood pressure you will have already done.

Technical data for this machine is

Type
Boots Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
Display
Digital LCD
Measuring ranges
Blood pressure 20-280mmhg
Pulse 40-200 beats per minute
Accuracy
Blood pressure +/- 3mmhg
Pulse +/- 5% of display reading
Inflation
Automatic via electric pump
Deflation
Automatic pressure release valve
Pressure and pulse detection
Pressure sensor
Measuring method
Oscillometric
Power Supply
2 AAA batteries
Auto shut off
5 mins after last key operation

Summary: This takes a lot of the worry away from you when you can check when and where you want