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crims0n 2 days ago

I am looking forward to this feature, but worry about it's accuracy.

Every time I go to the doctor and they hook me up to a blood pressure monitor, it comes back way high (like 160/90). I then request a manual check and it always comes back normal. I didn't figure this out until after they prescribed me calcium channel blockers (and they didn't do anything). Something about the shape of my arm or something.

Anyway point being that a faulty reading led to me being prescribed meds I did not need. Hoping this doesn't lead to more of the same.

m463 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

I've heard inaccuracy could be dependent on how your arm is held/supported/relaxed when you are attached to the automatic cuff.

I always end up with my arm almost shoulder height resting on some bin on the side of the blood pressure device cart thing.

I wonder why they can't use an ergonomic chair with two appropriate-height support arms.

asyx 18 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I had that too but I think it’s kinda weird. Like, high readings should be followed up with long term blood pressure measurements. And maybe the recommendation to get your own device and check regularly at home.

At least that’s what happened to me.

To be fair though, this high readings problem at the doctors office went away when I lost weight (from a BMI of 25 to a BMI of 22. both in normal weight range).

nolok a day ago | parent | prev [-]

Like the other commenter says, it's probably a matter of how your arm is (both position and not moving it at all) during the testing, those automatic machines are super fickle about it compared to the manual "pumps" ones.

Your doctor should see it though, unless they don't stay next to you and thus can't (but I know mine use it more like a first control test, and would always do a manual test before prescribing anything).

YMMV, I'm in France.

PS : with that said, this here is even more different since it's in a watch, and I would not trust it for anything other than "hey, maybe go check at a doctor"