Pump it up. (Boots Blood Pressure Monitor)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Boots Blood Pressure Monitor
Date:	19/05/08 (1136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Could save your life.

Disadvantages: Could worry you.

I bought a blood pressure monitor today from Boots. I have to have six monthly blood checks because I have type 2 diabetes. No great shakes, only today when I went for the results the GP took my blood pressure and it was pretty high, which is unusual for me. I am not going to get into what hypertension is etc. that is for a different review and there is plenty of information on the net. This is a review of the new blood pressure arm monitor by Boots.

Price:
Reduced from £29.99 to £14.99, I remember these a few years ago at plus £50, so that is the first bonus, plus of course points on the old Advantage card.

What is it?
Pretty much what is says on the box, which by the way is cardboard (good, recyclable) and not too fancy, in fact it looks distinctly 80's. It is a portable, battery operated blood pressure arm monitor that also takes your pulse.

In the box:
One blood pressure arm monitor, one cuff for the upper arm, one instruction booklet, one case.

How to use:
This really could not be simpler. Put the 4 batteries in, attach the cuff 'pipe' to the machine, place the cuff on upper left arm, there are lots of instructions on the cuff that show you how to place it. Press 'start', the cuff 'pumps up' around your upper arm, just like at the doctors and 30 seconds later you have a blood pressure reading that shows 'systolic' (the high one) and 'Diastolic' (the low one).

There is a a handy diary section of the instruction booklet to record blood pressure with 72 spaces. I intend to record this twice a day until I go for another check in two weeks.

The Monitor:
Cheap, but robust white plastic, easy read LCD display on the front and a nice big start/stop button. Batteries are easy to replace (often an afterthought in my opinion). The 'cuff' attaches easily and obviously to the Monitor and I really like the fact that the cuff is pretty foolproof. With a picture of an arm showing you how to place it on, a clear diagram showing where to place the point of the cuff near the artery it really does not get much easier.

Case, looks just like a cheap toiletries case, black with a zipper, which means these monitors are easily transportable, no logo's means that noone knows your buisiness either, and just for good measure, their is enough room left with the monitor packed for me to put my blood/sugar monitor in too!

Instruction Booklet:
Very clear, pretty plain English as far as I'm concerned, great diary section as mentioned, fault finding page, and lots of good, clear diagrams, good tips, such as getting the monitor and arm at heart level (like when do they do that at GP's?). In addition the instruction book makes clear that this is not the be all and end all, that folk really should go to their GP or other health professional if needed. There is also a link to the Blood Pressure Association.

So why bother when you can go to the GP:
For me, I got a shock when I had my BP taken and it was high, so I took it at the chemist and again when I got home with this machine. The chemist and this machine put it somewhat lower, so when I go back to the GP I will suggest he uses a different machine (they need regular calibration), so personally it gives a bit of peace of mind (though I still need to lower it a bit).

It is useful for anyone to have a quick check regularly of their blood pressure because any changes should prompt one into a GP visit. Most people that have high (or low) blood pressure do not realise it, and they are certainly risking their long term health.

Finally:
£15, not a lot to pay for a piece of information which may prompt you to go to the GP or even better, make some lifestyle changes. Do not regard this machine as an indication of everything being okay, nor a harbinger of doom. This is not a piece of medical equipment, just a 'snapshot' guide.

Summary: Blood pressure monitor.