From: pj04171@austin.lockheed.com (pj04171)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Blood pressure gauge?
Date: 7 Sep 92 14:40:35 GMT
Organization: "Lockheed Austin Division, 6800 Burleson Rd, Austin, TX 78744"

From article <92248.232336BIGCU@CUNYVM.BITNET>, by BIGCU@CUNYVM.BITNET:
> In article <1992Sep3.044958.10136@cs.ubc.ca>, yogi@cs.ubc.ca (Yossi Gil) says:
>>My fathere suffers from a high blood pressure, and he needs to monitor
>>his blood pressure contantly. He currently uses to different gauges,
>>and he is very displeased with the results. The devices  give different
>>readings even if he doesn't pause at all as he swithces from one to
>>the other.
> Yup.  That's the way it's SUPPOSED to be!  You WILL get different readings
> if you take them consecutively - you'll need a couple of minutes "rest"
> between readings to return things to normal, but blood pressure is quite
> dynamic and can well change in a couple of minutes anyhow.  You will also
> get different readings in right vs. left arm, and different readings when
> sitting or standing.  For the most part, I wouldn't worry about small
> variations - it's probably the general trend that is more informative.
> 

We take our daughters blood pressure 2-3 times daily. It is rarely the same.
However there are some trend we have noticed. It is higher in the evening
than the morning. It is lower if taken when she is standing. I can always
hear better on her right arm than on her left.

> Anyhow, the most accurate gauges tend to be the column of mercury ones.
> Some dial gauges can be quite accurate too.  I've heard that a pretty good
> gauge that's also reasonably priced is the "Prosphyg" aneriod sphygmomanomter
> marketed by American Diagnostics Corp in West Babylon, NY.  They got a full
> line of such stuff, I think.

Another thing to consider is replaceable parts. As I said above we take
BP often. We have already gone through one blub and a number of 
stethascope(sp) caps. We will also be needing a new size cuff sometime
soon. However it is probably easier to take Blood Pressure on an adult 
than a 4 year old so the parts will probably last longer. We haven't
had to replace the gauge (the expensive part) yet.

> 
> The least accurate ones are usually the electronic ones that take the BP
> at a fingertip.
> 

From experience I agree. As a matter of fact all electronic ones are less
acurate, but easier to perfrom on yourself.

From hospital experience:
 1)  it is always better to use the same cuff (the same machine 
     but different cuff geave different readings) 
 2)  always use the same arm (or leg)
 3)  Keep track of the BP readings, note the arm, time, and when 
     medicine was given (if you are on Blood Pressure medicine).
 
The record is to note trends. A single high reading is not important
(unless above a set threshold for our 4 yr old it was 150 systolic and
80 diastolic) If her BP went up for a number of days or a week then we
increased the medicine. If it went steadly down over a few weeks we
were able to decrese the medicine. 

My daughter is only 4 so our choice was limited. Many models do not
have interchangable cuffs. We need a very small cuff.

> Consumer reports had a report on these things a while (2 years?) back.

They have one from a few months back.

> Perhaps it's worth locating the issue, though note that the cheapie
> electronic models have probably improved in accracy since that report
> was published.
> -------
> Bill Gruber   BITNET: BIGCU@CUNYVM  Internet: BIGCU at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
> City University of New York Computer Center
-- 
 Kathleen Lossau                   | "I do not speak for any company 
 Inter: lossau@austin.lockheed.com |  or organization. Sometimes I   
 UUCP:  ut-emx!lad-shrike!lossau   |  don't even speak for myself."  
 Phone: (512) 386-5449             |