Why should I check my blood pressure at home? Is taking your blood pressure at home better than in the doctor’s office? Is there an app for that? Today’s discussion of Top 5 Things to know about Home Blood Pressure Monitoring is brought to you by Omron Healthcare.
Did you know that May is National Stroke Awareness month? In order to avoid strokes and heart attacks, I have been trying out the , a portable, wireless upper-arm blood pressure monitor that is clinically validated for accuracy and has received FDA clearance. With no tubes, wires or tabletop unit, the new sleek, one-piece EVOLV blood pressure monitor easily fits on the upper arm and clearly displays a blood pressure reading on the face of the device with a press of a button.
This is my third blog post about the Omron EVOLV. In my first article, I took the , where I pledged to exercise, eat smart, kick the habits, stifle the stress and monitor my blood pressure regularly. In my second blog post, I explored the question “Where can I find an easy to use at-home blood pressure monitor?”
What Surprised Me about Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
My normal blood pressure is in the green. I get elevated blood pressures when I wave my arms around when taking readings. I do this frequently.
When using the Omron EVOLV and the related Omron Connect App, I learned quite a bit about taking home blood pressure monitoring and getting good readings. I may have done each of these things (more than once with several!) :
- You can’t wave your arm around when you are taking your blood pressure, you need to have your arm resting on the table. Arm waving=poor reading Good news? You can delete bad readings.
- See #1
- Don’t kill the app during the transferring process because your internet is taking its sweet time. Killing the app (turning it off) during the transferring process can lead to data loss.
- If you take a reading twice because you push the wrong button and it records to your app, you can easily delete that reading. (see red trash can in photo below) Took me awhile to realize this. (See #6)
- If you have a accurate “Elevated” reading (versus one caused by operator error), or one falls in the “Pre-hypertensive” range or “Hypertensive” range, you can make add a note (see photo above) to indicate what was going on at the time. It will help you avoid some situations that are causing blood pressure elevation. Even more importantly, your doctor will be able to use this information to help you manage your blood pressure. My blood pressure usually runs in the normal range but I am enjoying checking it often as I have two children getting married this year…can you say STRESS?
- Read the directions for the unit. This is so helpful. The Omron EVOLV is a very easy unit to use and it does almost guide you through the process but reading the directions saves you time and avoids poor readings.
- See #1. Yes, most of my poor reading were obtained when I was not resting my arm on the table. No fault of the unit, I just spazzed out. I am relieved when I do rest my arms and chill out before taking my blood pressure readings that they are in the normal range.
- My blood pressure does vary throughout the day. I feel I am more aware now of when my blood pressure is rising and when I am feeling stressed. I am now taking the time to cool down and chill out. I am going to confirm this in my next blog post when I talk to some specialists and ask them questions.
- You cannot screenshot from the Omron Connect App. This is for privacy reasons. It made it hard to grab pictures for the blog post but it sure made me feel better about the privacy of my information.
Top 5 Things to know about Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
- CHECK ANYTIME– You can check your blood pressure anytime you want to–Feeling stressed? Check your blood pressure. Feeling out of it? Check your blood presssure.
- NOT A DOCTOR–You are not a medical professional –well most of us aren’t. So if you take your blood pressure and it’s elevated or higher, consider calling your doctor, 911, or heading to the nearest medical facility.
- DATA–Doctors thrive on data. Having more blood pressure readings over time provides them with more insights and a more accurate view of your blood pressure.
- “WHITE COAT EFFECT” — Many people get stressed when they are heading to the doctor’s office. Often your blood pressure is LOWER at home. That is why the best, most accurate way to know your blood pressure reading on average is to take readings regularly, at home, in a relaxed setting when you are at rest for at least 15 minutes.
- MOBILE– At home blood pressure monitors (like the Omron Evolv) can be portable, wireless and mobile. So you can take your monitor with you, wherever you choose…vacation, retirement home, long weekend.
Your Turn
Take the Omron and learn more about the ! In my next blog article, I will be talking to Omron physician partners, including renowned cardiologist, Dr. James Rippe.
This is a great idea. I have thought about using one but never really understood the readings.
Thanks for sharing this I do check my blood pressure so important indeed. I been watching my diet trying to get exercise more here . Especially since I turn 60
High blood pressure is so important to watch and track. I definitely want to monitor my blood pressure at home so thank you for this information. I know where to start now.
You just reminded me, I have a compact blood pressure monitor like this in my bathroom under my sink, need to check it due to stress at work recently 🙁 These are so awesome and handy!
A healthy BP is so important! Thanks for sharing.
These are great tips for home blood pressure monitoring.
We need to get better about keeping track of our blood pressure. I’ll have to tell hubby about the app.
I have high blood pressure and I think it’s from the constant anxiety I feel even though I take anxiety medicine, it doesn’t bring down my blood pressure.
I live in assisted living and they take my blood pressure literally all the time.
I think it’s important for people to track their vitals whether they have health problems or not. This is a good review. It seems that the device works really well. 🙂
So much to remember about doing your pressure monitoring.
This would be wonderful to have. I’m prone to high blood pressure so I would use this every day.
I check mine weekly or when I think it may be high
I have to print this for my dad! He just became diabetic and is not handling it well!
Oh wow what a great tool! I love that it saves history because that can be super helpful for doctor visits and diagnoses. Thanks for all of the information/tips, I’m going to have to get one!
It’s so nice to be able to use this at home. I tend to have low blood pressure. I should probably pick one of these up to keep an eye on it.
Such important info! My mom always keeps a machine like this handy to help monitor her high blood pressure – it’s so great that they make machines like this now that can be kept at home.
I have noticed all these things. My blood pressure is higher when I go to the doctors.
I need to do this at home. Mine was a little high, for me, that last time I went in. I’d like to keep a better eye on it.
I definitely agree that my blood pressure is lower at home. I get stressed out any time I have to go to the doctor and it is always a bit high. At home it is in the normal range.
This looks so easy and simple to use. My mom is in the habit of checking her blood pressure at home I will have to let her know about this blood pressure monitoring system.
Great tips and I love this app. My husband is always losing his numbers. With this machine, I could keep track on my phone for the dr.