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Home BP testing with Walgreens Homedics Monitor -vs- Walmart Machine
I've been using the Walgreen's Homedics Monitor to test all of my BP tests for more than five years. For me and my wife. Recently I've started using the technique as prescribed by a doctor who said to set in a chair, back erect, both feet on the floor, the arm with monitor rested with palm up and the other on resting on the thigh. Rest totally for 5 minutes in a quiet place with no distractions. Then take subsequent tests at 1 minute intervals while resting in-between tests. Since 09/18/23 I have been taking 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar 3 times a day which is supposed to low the BP. Before I lost 45.6 pounds, I was diagnosed with high BP. I was 258 and I figured that I had high BP. As of today, my average BP is 110/62 with a 77 pulse rate. The Dr. that gave me the instructions for taking BP tests said that the BP tests given in the Dr.'s office is never correct. I can attest to that because they NEVER give you time to rest correctly. My last BP test in the ER was 150 after I walked a 1/4 of a mile on crutches to the VA ER room. I need a normal reading in order to get my commercial drivers license approved for 2 years instead of 1 year if you are diagnosed with high BP. So, what, where or how do I get a valid BP test to show the Dr. who will be administering my physical, the correct BP reading. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you for you time and advice.
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Addendum to Home BP testing with Walgreens Homedics Monitor -vs- Walmart Machine. I forgot to mention that when I tested my BP at Walmart using the resting techniques that I use daily, here are the results from that test today. 1st test - 144/82 85, 2nd test - 139/85 84, 3rd test - 141/85 86. Average is 141/84 85 Pulse.
This seems simple - explain you need to be seated as you describe for five or more minutes - then have BP taken. Most docs and staff are sort of adjusting their assessments when they take a quick BP - they’re looking at you and assessing and usually nowadays checking blood O2.
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1 ReactionThank you for that information. I've also found other things that I can do to prepare for the test, such as waiting 30 minutes to an hour before the test, with no eating beforehand and urinating before the test. I'll keep researching to develop a plan that I can use on a daily basis. Again, thank you for your input. I do appreciate it very much.
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1 ReactionIt occurs to me that perhaps you are not taking hypertension meds?
It sounds as if you want to obtain a two year license, but may not be medically clear enough for that? And, why are you using crutches in a VA facility? I should have asked what your age is ... and, any other extenuating factors?
I have a problem with my blood pressure being abnormally high when I see the doctor. My blood pressure at home averages 106/66 and it can be as high as 142/80 in the doctor's office.
I use the Omron Connect series 7 wrist blood pressure monitor. It correlates closely with the Omron larger blood pressure monitors in my Cardiologist's office. At home, I take my blood pressure several times a day following the positioning instructions that come with the monitor. The blood pressure values automatically go to the Omron app on my phone. The Omron app report keeps historical records that display the values as a list or graph by day, week, month, or year (attached screen shots). I show the reading to my doctors so they know my blood pressure is actually low at home.
The other technique to use to lower my blood pressure back to normal before my doctor visit is to sit quietly with my my eyes closed and inhale to the count of three and slowly exhale to the count if 6 through pursed lips. I do this several times and only focus on this breathing technique. This helps to calm my nervous system down and it lowers my blood pressure back to its normal value.
Congratulations on getting your weight down and making lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure.
I have been taking Doxazosin Mesylate for blood pressure for about 12 years and has does nothing for my pressure. And to be honest while not living a healthy lifestyle and reaching a weight of 258 lbs., that's probably why. So the only thing that really works is diet and exercise which I am now doing and have at this time an average reading of 118/71/80. As far as being medically clear to maintain a CDL, you can have high blood pressure and still maintain your CDL with the caveat that instead of being approved for a 2 year period, they will approve you for only a year at a time. My goal is to obtain my original 2 year period so that I don't have to do this every year due to the expense involved. Plus, I no longer drive actively over-the-road. I only maintain my CDL because once you lose them you have to go and re-qualify which is a nightmare and greater expense that I can afford. I have my CDL to do part-time driving locally only. NO longhauls! And the reason that I was on crutches at the VA is because I injured my left ACL and could not walk for a long time. I am still waiting for the VA to schedule an appointment with my PCP and then wait more time to actually get the MRI to determine what was damaged.
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1 ReactionI appreciate this information because I am basically doing the same thing, tracking all of my weight gains and losses and BP measurements to show the Dr. my BP's overtime. I am also showing the average between my BP in the morning and at night after daily activity. I am still falling in the low BP range. I also just discovered the breathing technique that I will be testing this weekend. The test that I saw on the internet by a Dr. was DRAMATIC and convinced me to try it. I am 75 and my goal is to reach my target weight of whatever the medical community determines that to be. I will submit that to the community later. Thank you so much for verifying what I thought should be done to confront/review with my Dr., "MY" regulated BP testing overtime and hope that he is reasonable and accept the results because his BP test will be wrong. God bless and thanks again for your great information.
Again, this can be simple .... insist that your doc's staff leave you in the exam room for five minutes, follow the feet flat on floor and calm down ... then allow your bp to be taken.
I don't think that will happen. I am going to a facility that mainly performs minimal testing like BP, eye exams, look you over, can you bend over, touch your nose, urine tests, no blood workup.
They run you through like cattle and don't waste time doing it. They get you in and get you out. However, there is one good thing that I can do. The wait times are long, so I will take that opportunity to do my breathing exercises while I wait. Wish me luck. Gonna need it. Thanks! Ernest Villarreal, Euless, Tx.
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1 ReactionWhen I do diaphragmatic breathing, I say to myself "Inhale 1,2,3" and
then "Exhale 1,2,3,4,5,6" slowly through pursed lips. . This helps my mind focus on correct breathing, and not on other thoughts that can cause anxiety and raise blood pressure. I use this technique when I experience arrhythmias.
The breathing should be gentle, relaxed, and not forced. Your diaphragm muscle will rise and fall. One therapist told me to imagine a baby lying on their back peacefully asleep. You will see the diaphragm muscle rise and fall in a gentle rhythm.
A pulmonologist told me years ago that I was a "chest breather" and breathing incorrectly . It took time to train my body to breathe correctly all the time.
I hope everything goes well with your exam. Keep up the positive lifestyle changes!