When I went for my annual medical checkup last September, my blood pressure (which had been normal for years) was very high during three consecutive tests at the clinic. My GP wanted me to check my blood pressure several times a day, either with a home monitor by or wearing one of those 24-hour machines. She told me that the OMROM wrist monitor that I had been using was not accurate, and that I needed one with a cuff for the upper arm.
I decided against the 24-hour monitor because I had done it before, and the travelling time to have it fitted and then removed the day after would not work with my work schedule.
I went to the pharmacy, and bought the middle version of the three OMRON monitors they had in stock. There was a 30% discount so I could buy the 'middle' one at the same price of the 'lowest'. I reasoned that I should be taking my blood pressure regularly anyway, and that a decent monitor would be a good investment. This one was about $60, and can store the history of two users.
The doctor sent me a very useful electronic form to complete over the course of a week. I had to take my blood pressure twice in the morning and twice in the evening for seven days. When I added each reading to the form, the table automatically calculated an average for the day and week. This meant I could see that my blood pressure was high only on the day I visited the doctor (stress, maybe?) and then dropped to normal for the rest of the week. As a result, I did not need medication.
Since then I have taken my blood pressure for a week, using the same form, and it is still normal.
How many of my readers have home monitors of any kind? Do you have a watch that can perform health functions?
No comments:
Post a Comment