| Blood pressure monitors are becoming more and | | | | other time of the day. The best way to pick this up |
| more commonplace, more accurate and more | | | | is obviously to monitor your pressure levels on a |
| affordable by the day and none more so than the | | | | regular basis several times a day. And whilst you can |
| automatic blood pressure monitors currently available | | | | visit your doctor two or three times a day you may |
| on the market. The question is, should you buy one | | | | find it easier and cheaper to buy your own monitor |
| or should you just stick to visiting your doctor or | | | | and take the readings yourself. If you are concerned |
| healthcare professional on a regular basis? | | | | or worried that the accuracy of the machine you buy |
| Well apart from the fact that visiting your doctor will | | | | may not be as good or as comparable as your |
| cost you money each time you visit him here are | | | | doctor's then all you have to do is take it to him and |
| three good reasons why you should buy your own. | | | | get him to take readings with both his machine and |
| Ever hear of the "white coat" effect? This is where | | | | yours. You can then compare results and if need be |
| your blood pressure measurement is higher when | | | | calibrate yours to his. |
| taken in your doctor's rooms than when it is taken in | | | | The automatic blood pressure monitors of today are |
| the more congenial, relaxed surroundings of your own | | | | just that, automatic. You don't have to worry about |
| home. The reason for this is simply stress. Visiting | | | | inflating the cuff to the right pressure and nor do |
| your doctor, no matter how long you have been | | | | you have to worry about fitting it to your arm |
| with him or her, for many people, induces a certain | | | | correctly. The latest monitors are able to "sense" the |
| amount of stress whether it is felt or not. When you | | | | right pressure to inflate the cuff to and the cuffs are |
| are able to have it taken in the relaxed atmosphere | | | | preformed to fit your arm providing you with a very |
| of your own home this stress is removed and this | | | | comfortable experience. A lot of them also come |
| ensures the reading taken is accurate. | | | | with the ability to store the readings over a set |
| Many people suffer from morning hypertension | | | | period of time thereby allowing you to chart your |
| where their bp is higher in the morning than at any | | | | progress. |