Health - Blood Pressure

Dear John,

Just about everyone knows that hypertension is directly related to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. What many people don't realize, however, is that you can have none of these problems, feel great, and still have elevated blood pressure.

High blood pressure affects more than one in four Americans. And, although it's not considered a disease, it's known as "the silent killer" because its first warning sign is often death itself.

On the flip side, blood pressure testing has become so routine that sloppy, inaccurate procedures incorrectly label many people "hypertensive." In fact, researchers at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California, estimate that 20-30% of patients diagnosed as hypertensive actually have normal blood pressure. This misdiagnosis can certainly cause unwarranted fear, plus contribute to a lifetime of unnecessary medications and increased insurance premiums.

Given these startling realities, I strongly urge you to check your blood pressure regularly -and make sure it's done correctly.

"White Coat Hypertension" is a primary cause of misleading blood pressure readings

One common phenomenon that leads to inaccurate blood pressure readings is "White Coat Hypertension." This refers to the well-known fact that a person's blood pressure can escalate the minute he or she steps into a doctor's office. Therefore, readings taken in this setting may not reflect a person's everyday blood pressure.

Also, the technique used to measure blood pressure can vary greatly between doctors and can also change over time even with the same doctor. That's because an accurate reading depends on many factors: the position of your arm, the hearing of the person listening through a stethoscope, and the calibration of the instruments. all which can lead to inconsistent numbers.

As a result, you can never be sure that the blood pressure readings you're getting at your doctor's office represent your true, everyday blood pressure or if they're artificially elevated. This distinction is especially important if your doctor is about to (or already has) prescribed antihypertensive medications.

If I were being evaluated for a medication that I might have to take the rest of my life, I'd want to be sure it was absolutely necessary. One of the best ways to do this is to take control of your blood pressure measurements by monitoring yourself in the comfort and privacy of your own home, and discuss the results with your physician.

I finally found a quality home monitor that I feel confident recommending

Even though I've always liked the idea of at-home blood pressure monitoring, finding a product that could do the job easily, accurately, and affordably has been a bit of a challenge.

There are so many home blood pressure monitors that it's hard to know just where to begin when evaluating them. Many of the units that I tested had confusing operating instructions; uncomfortable cuffs; tiny, unreadable result numbers; uncertain accuracy; and inferior manufacturing. I found the whole process to be both frustrating and discouraging.

But recently, I evaluated a new unit introduced by HoMedics, a leader in professional-grade medical equipment and supplies. This blood pressure monitor satisfied every criterion I was searching for.and more. And the fact that this monitor was engineered and manufactured by a respected medical equipment firm, rather than a company that produces gadgets, toys and "fun" health and beauty items-meant a lot to me.

The unit is called the HoMedics Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Voice Assist. It audibly leads you through the entire blood pressure measurement process so you know you're getting an accurate reading each and every time. And the unit is compact, well-designed, and exceptionally easy to use.

It gives you other important measures of cardiovascular health, too

In addition to precisely measuring and tracking your blood pressure over time, the HoMedics Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Voice Assist takes other measures of cardiovascular health, including your pulse rate at the same time as it takes your blood pressure readings.

Some of the measures help alert you if the monitor detects something out of the ordinary. For instance, a symbol will appear on the readout screen if you have an irregular heartbeat. (If this shows up multiple times in a row, consult your physician for further evaluation.)

The monitor also tells you if your blood pressure reading falls into certain "risk categories." These categories-"High Normal," "Stage 1 Hypertension," "Stage 2 Hypertension," and "Stage 3 Hypertension," were developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Together, these measures will help give you a more detailed picture of your overall cardiovascular health.

Order your own HoMedics Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Voice Assist. It's the best way to get accurate readings and spot important trends in your blood pressure levels, which is peace-of-mind like nothing else.

To your health,

Dr. David Williams

P.S. If you or a loved one have concerns about your blood pressure-or think you have been misdiagnosed with hypertension-you should begin daily monitoring right away with your HoMedics Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Voice Assist. Get stared today!