Do you hate those blood pressure machines (instead of the old way when the doc took it)? It hurts like crazy.

[CTyankee]

My doc is kind cuz I'm an old lady and he always does my bp reading when he is there. I complained about how much it hurt and he now takes it and is very gentle. I think it is because he is from another culture that is very respectful of their elders.

[yorkster]

1. The machine hurts and also gives a higher reading.

Other than that it's bloody great...

[CTyankee]

2. Then why keep using it?

[MIButterfly]

4. To get everyone on blood pressure meds?

Doctors sure like to push pills on us.

[yorkster]

8. Faster and hands free - nurse prac. can multi-task.

I will sometimes request a manual reading.
It's almost always lower.

[KT2000]

9. My retired nurse practitioner

agrees and will not use them. He takes my BP the old fashioned way.

[MIButterfly]

3. Yes I hate that machine; it really hurts!

Every time I go to the doctor, my blood pressure is slightly high because I'm nervous so the doctor has the assistant take my blood pressure again at the end of my appointment. Sometimes it's higher at the end because the doctor scared the bejeezus out of me. Once they took my blood pressure at the end three times and got three different numbers! The doctor said to just take an average of the three numbers. That was the day I had to have my blood pressure taken by that lousy machine FOUR TIMES! I'm surprised I didn't have bruises on my arm

One day last year I had my blood pressure taken and it 103/80. The assistant asked me if I usually have low blood pressure. No. At the follow-up appointment, it was 97/80! She remarked that it was funny, everybody coming in that day had low pressure. Hello! You don't think there might be something wrong with your machine?

[rsdsharp]

5. I was in the hospital about 15 years ago. They kept me hooked up to a blood pressure machine.

Periodically, it would inflate the cuff, and inflate, and inflate, then deflate and immediately start again. I came home with little hemorrhages all over my upper arm.

I’m with you. I hate them. They always do it manually at the doctor’s office.

[spooky3]

6. Yes! It's different at every doctor's office.

At one, the cuff was so tight I was afraid I would pass out. I said something to the tech and her reply was that the machine determines how tight it is and it has to be tight to get the correct reading. ???? Then why is it much less tight elsewhere, and why is my reading so far above the usual reading?

[Dale in Laurel MD]

7. If you're in discomfort it will likely increase your bp.

Self-fulfilling procedure?

[Mosby]

10. I think they are more reliable than using a sphygmomanometer

The wrist cuff tester is the least bothersome and has similar results as the upper arm cuff system.

I have doctors who still use the manual BP tester and at least one time recently I had to tell the Dr. that the tech screwed up the reading. A common mistake is to let the air out too fast and missing the Korotkoff sounds.

I test my BP multiple times per day to monitor my BP. The wrist cuffs work great.

[mitch96]

11. If it hurts you are wrapping it up too tight.. back it off a bit. You should be able to stick a finger between

The cuff and your skin comfortably..Not to tight, not too loose..
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