Recently purchased a cheap home monitor for 300 baht online. All readings have been normal 115/65 105/63 etc. Advice from many doctors that I read are often taken wrong with the arm not level with the heart. At the hospital bent over leaning forward with my wrist up. Readings as high as 145/90 154/93. Dentist home monitor arm lower than heart readings lower but not as bad. Noticed at the store some boxes prices 1,000 baht up (CLINICALLY CERTIFIED) on some brands cheaper ones about 800 baht.

Why are the BP numbers so mixed ? Never had high blood pressure before ? Any doctors in the house or anyone with same experiences? Do not know what numbers to trust.

My 300 baht BP monitor seems very good quality, similar readings to when i go to a lab or clinic . Maybe you suffer from white coat syndrome when you go to the hospital, anxious perhaps

The Omron ones are:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7778435/

Rarely do clinicians use a mercury column these days, which has always been the Gold Standard.

Cuff size & placement as well as arm position is very important to get accurate, consistent results.

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

My 300 baht BP monitor seems very good quality, similar readings to when i go to a lab or clinic . Maybe you suffer from white coat syndrome when you go to the hospital, anxious perhaps

No not really the only thing i worry about is the dentist not working on my teeth. Not sure why it should suddenly soar at the two locations. Does yours have a brand name or have a CLINICALLY CERTIFIED on the box?

Just now, Bacon1 said:

The Omron ones are:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7778435/

Rarely do clinicians use a mercury column these days, which has always been the Gold Standard.

Cuff size & placement as well as arm position is very important to get accurate, consistent results.

But are the Omron ones really more accurate ?

26 minutes ago, Mitkof Island said:

Recently purchased a cheap home monitor for 300 baht online. All readings have been normal 115/65 105/63 etc. Advice from many doctors that I read are often taken wrong with the arm not level with the heart. At the hospital bent over leaning forward with my wrist up. Readings as high as 145/90 154/93. Dentist home monitor arm lower than heart readings lower but not as bad. Noticed at the store some boxes prices 1,000 baht up (CLINICALLY CERTIFIED) on some brands cheaper ones about 800 baht.

Why are the BP numbers so mixed ? Never had high blood pressure before ? Any doctors in the house or anyone with same experiences? Do not know what numbers to trust.

Sure, monitoring at home is very accurate.......as long you follow the instructions. (you mentioned already why you got different results). And make sure your device is calibrated. And don't talk during the procedure. Take readings always at the same time of the day (mornings)

To buy a good brand is an advantage. (e.g. Omron).

25 minutes ago, Mitkof Island said:

No not really the only thing i worry about is the dentist not working on my teeth. Not sure why it should suddenly soar at the two locations. Does yours have a brand name or have a CLINICALLY CERTIFIED on the box?

No name i recall, but had very good reviews on Lazada and has worked as expected, but i can't say they are all good, have you re-read the reviews? check any 1*to 4* reviews

25 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

No name i recall, but had very good reviews on Lazada and has worked as expected, but i can't say they are all good, have you re-read the reviews? check any 1*to 4* reviews

No had a Thai friend order one for me so no idea.

Simply buy one that many doc offices & hospitals use. Which I did, and have compared it to other BP monitors at the hosp, just before or after they've checked, or I've self checked my BP. And all have bee close enough to consider my unit, extremely accurate.

Mine is one of the least expensive Omron models, as it doesn't have memory log of readings, just the current one displayed. If I want (don't need) a record of, I can simply take a photo of display.

After traffic ride to clinic,

they check BP right away.

I make them check it again after a while relaxing

and always much lower then.

1 minute ago, papa al said:

After traffic ride to clinic,

they check BP right away.

I make them check it again after a while relaxing

and always much lower then.

Interesting, just how do you "make them" do them again after vou have had a relax ?

26 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Interesting, just how do you "make them" do them again after vou have had a relax ?

Simply ask.

Some intelligent nursing staff, will do it anyway, if it shows high, and it was taken as soon as you arrived. That has happened to me, when registering high. It was redone without me even asking.

It can easily go from 145+ to <130 after a 15+ minute rest, for me, anyway, depending how far and how many stairs I walked up to get to where ever.

My BP is always high in doctors offices and hospitals but low when I do it at home. My doctor says the at home readings are the ones I should pay attention to.

Interestingly, it's even lower when I go to Thailand. Not sure why. I don't think I am less stressed because Thailand can be more hectic and stressful in many ways. Maybe it's the humidity or the diet? Don't know.

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Sure, monitoring at home is very accurate.......as long you follow the instructions. (you mentioned already why you got different results). And make sure your device is calibrated. And don't talk during the procedure. Take readings always at the same time of the day (mornings)

To buy a good brand is an advantage. (e.g. Omron).

Thank you. Good advise

4 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

Recently purchased a cheap home monitor for 300 baht online. All readings have been normal 115/65 105/63 etc. Advice from many doctors that I read are often taken wrong with the arm not level with the heart. At the hospital bent over leaning forward with my wrist up. Readings as high as 145/90 154/93. Dentist home monitor arm lower than heart readings lower but not as bad. Noticed at the store some boxes prices 1,000 baht up (CLINICALLY CERTIFIED) on some brands cheaper ones about 800 baht.

Why are the BP numbers so mixed ? Never had high blood pressure before ? Any doctors in the house or anyone with same experiences? Do not know what numbers to trust.

Similar experience here, hospital readings are always way higher. I've got two home monitors, one in the 1000+ price range and a very cheap Jziki model from China bought on Lazada a few years ago (still working fine). Both sets of readings are similar, and the inflatable cuff is decent quality, albeit a smaller circumference than on the more expensive device.

3 hours ago, Olmate said:

Interesting, just how do you "make them" do them again after vou have had a relax ?

papa sez:

take my BP again.

7 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

But are the Omron ones really more accurate ?

Yes. They are manufactured to published standards and are used in healthcare settings because of that.

11 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Simply ask.

Some intelligent nursing staff, will do it anyway, if it shows high, and it was taken as soon as you arrived. That has happened to me, when registering high. It was redone without me even asking.

It can easily go from 145+ to <130 after a 15+ minute rest, for me, anyway, depending how far and how many stairs I walked up to get to where ever.

Of course! I was refering to the terminology used, and the mindset of someone using the term "make them", particularly in a hospital /Dr. type setting!

8 hours ago, papa al said:

papa sez:

take my BP again.

"Play that again Sam" please works better Alan!

42 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Of course! I was refering to the terminology used, and the mindset of someone using the term "make them", particularly in a hospital /Dr. type setting!

what mindset is that.?

15 hours ago, Bacon1 said:

The Omron ones are:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7778435/

Rarely do clinicians use a mercury column these days, which has always been the Gold Standard.

Cuff size & placement as well as arm position is very important to get accurate, consistent results.

I have an inexpensive one for some years. I'm ok with it. I've been to hospitals actually using similar omran. I think you've gotten to the point where this stuff is actually easy to manufacture/low technology

There are three main types of blood pressure measuring devices.

The first is the mercury column sphygmomanometer, which relies on listening to Korotkoff sounds. These sounds occur when the artery, temporarily occluded by the cuff, begins to open again. From this, the blood pressure is determined.

The second is the oscillometric technique, used in digital machines. This method measures vibrations in the arterial wall, and the peak of these vibrations represents the mean arterial pressure (MAP). From the MAP, the device uses an algorithm to calculate the systolic and diastolic pressures.

Digital blood pressure monitors have been in use for about 40 years. They are used throughout hospitals, including in emergency care and ICUs, so it’s fair to say they are accurate.

There is a third method, which is intra-arterial blood pressure (IABP). A catheter is inserted directly into an artery. This technique is used only in situations such as cardiogenic shock, cardiac surgery, and a few other critical conditions. It is not used routinely, and certainly not in an ambulatory setting.

I have had a Viet Nam-manufactured Omron for about a decade - I have seen a similar model for sale at a pharmacy for around Baht 900.

After acquiring my Omron years ago, a few times I took it to hospital when I went for check-ups, and took my blood pressure using both the hospital machine and my Omron - readings were the same or just a little different, ie numbers differed by about 4-5 digits..

Cheaper ones are probably ok, better to focus your attention on a better diet to bring your blood pressure down

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Cheaper ones are probably ok, better to focus your attention on a better diet to bring your blood pressure down

Not convinced my blood pressure is higher than normal. Oddly not long ago everywhere I went they mentioned my blood pressure was very good for my age. So for now going to enjoy life eat well like i often do , walk more than most humans , and from tome to time eat a pizza.

44 minutes ago, Mitkof Island said:

Not convinced my blood pressure is higher than normal. Oddly not long ago everywhere I went they mentioned my blood pressure was very good for my age. So for now going to enjoy life eat well like i often do , walk more than most humans , and from tome to time eat a pizza.

If you have a good diet and feel ok you are probably ok but may be worth getting a second check to see if your home monitor is ok, it probably is

3 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

I have had a Viet Nam-manufactured Omron for about a decade - I have seen a similar model for sale at a pharmacy for around Baht 900.

After acquiring my Omron years ago, a few times I took it to hospital when I went for check-ups, and took my blood pressure using both the hospital machine and my Omron - readings were the same or just a little different, ie numbers differed by about 4-5 digits..

Well, 5 up or down could be significant.

I honestly completely ignore the blood pressure reading in the hospital. On the rare occasion I need to go to hospital or clinic to get lab tests I always take my BP before.

1 I've been in transit to the hospital for an hour and probably walked a minimum of a kilometer often in heat

2 they often don't let me rest for 10 minutes at least they just jump right at the reading

3 I have a bit of high blood pressure well controlled by simple medication. Sometimes the reading is high but nevertheless they always tell me it's "normal". Therefore I understand they don't know what normal actually is lol. My BP is considerably better and more consistent as I've taken up regular exercise in the last year... Not that I was unfit prior

1 hour ago, Mitkof Island said:

Not convinced my blood pressure is higher than normal. Oddly not long ago everywhere I went they mentioned my blood pressure was very good for my age. So for now going to enjoy life eat well like i often do , walk more than most humans , and from tome to time eat a pizza.

Depends on what your blood pressure is when you wake up ( resting), after exercise, generally in the day.

Don't disregard if it's consistently high or borderline. Lower is always better.

It's amazing what exercise and other minor changes can do for 50+ blood pressure

Therd are many factors that can give higher than usual reading in a health care setting:

1. Anxiety ("white coat syndrome") or pain, coughing or sneezing

2. Reading done when not really at rest e.g. immediately upon arrival. If you think this was an issue, ask them to wait 10 minutes or so. Or, if hesitant to do that, then rest yourself a while outside the room first before going in.

3. Using wrong size cuff. Very common. Most farang need a larger cuff than is usually used.

4. Uncalibrated machines.

Home reading done at same time each day is most reliable provided the machine is reliable. As others have mentioned, Omron brand is good.

Note that BP is not stagnant, it fluctuates and that is normal.

I want to thank everyone for your responses . They have all been very helpful.