I hope your are right BigVal - I have the same problem. My blood-pressure was always

120/80 but a few month ago it seem to have jumped MUCH higher - which of course worries me, so this can be one of the reasons it is truly higher -- lol

I got medication as well and the only reason my doctor tells me about the change that it is because I am older now ...

I will ask him about the new machines ....

Lark - my husband has high BP and it runs in his family.



Even his has jumped up higher under these new machines. Higher on the top one but acceptable on the lower one which is supposed to be the most important.



If you see your doctor maybe ask what that means having a high top reading as I could not get any real answer from mine.

Ok, BigVal, I shall do that, and I'll let you know.

(I may don't see him an other month, but won't forget it!)

BigVal - I looked around for a bit of information on these new machines, and this is what I found:





firstly: about the top reading:

The procedure is to choke off an artery by applying a measured air pressure, until no blood can flow, then gradually lower the choking pressure while listening for first flow of the choked artery. The measured pressure coincides to the hearts pressure produced while ejecting blood. Second step of the procedure is to continue lowering the choking pressure while listening for open flow of the artery being monitored.



However,-- the new, digital machines (the one my doctor and probably yours have -) with automatic inflation are electronic, easy to operate BUT many have not been validated for all patient groups, and can give VERY INACCURATE readings.

They measure mean arterial pressure (MAP) and use algorithms to calculate systolic and diastolic values. In this sense, they do not actually measure the blood pressure, but derive the readings. Digital oscillometric monitors are also confronted with “special conditions” for which they are not designed to be used: arteriosclerosis, arrhythmia, preeclampsia, pulsus alternans, and pulsus paradoxus.



Manual. This is the one that worked with a hand-pump and stethoscope: " Mercury manometers are considered to be the "gold standard" of measurement because their measurement is absolute and does not require re-calibration. For this reason they are often required in clinical trials of pharmaceuticals and for clinical evaluations of determining blood pressure for high risk patients including pregnant women."



In conclusion, it is very possible that we all have the wrong reading! - which is kind of scary!

Wow Lark - that says it all now does it not! High readings seem to be the norm with these new ones and we bought one ourselves and it is high on the top for both of us too.



Wish we had been able to buy one of the old sort but they only had the new auto ones.



But hubbies top figure is higher now too when it was quite a bit lower on the pump up ones due to his meds which remain the same but the readings are not as good with new auto machine so proves it really.



So we have "solvered" it rofl.............Not a conspiracy by the drug companies to sell more meds - tic -



but just a new device that is not as good as the old device it replaced - usual story.



Good on you Lark.

I also have found that the new machines are giving a higher reading--I also had my doubts about if I really needed B/P meds--as my B/P has been the same for decades and all of a sudden the Dr said --the reading was a bit high--and has me now on meds--are the drugs companies just wanting to sell more pills--when I asked WHY he said the W H O --World Heath Org---have now brought the ideal reading down !!!??? I have also found the my pulse rate is higher on this new machine.

Looks like we are healthier than they would make us believe - ;-)

What a crook world ...!

BP was not that long ago - 140 over 90 was considered to be a reasonable BP and no meds.



Yes I do think that like many other things money talks and the drug companies have got their way and will have every single person on the planet that can afford it or their government pay for it on as many of these drugs as possible to maximise their profit.



Profit and Greed rule the 21st Century for sure and got a good strong foothold in the last 50 years of the 20th.



Called donations to political parties and employ lobbyists to take up their case and go for gold - money that is.



I saw from Lark's post that they are advised to use the old measure pump up etc for pregnant and other conditions - maybe we should ask to be measure on old machines bet they still have them lurking out back.



Or get the current affairs or 4 corners on to it - someone should be.

Very sinister :coolgrin:

I was ranging fron 137/65 > 147/70 --with a pulse rate of 59 to 70 when I ws put on B/P meds so I ask you why was that so--now I measure 157/75 with a pulse rate of about 72 (on meds) and with the new fangled machine

I was always 120/80 and then got onto the new machine and suddenly a reading of 170/70 and variations of that. So had to take Tritace which didn't suit me (side effects which Doc says do not exist but listed) and now on Coversyl 2.5 and still have 170/67 last time.



work that one out. I cant. My lower one is much lower sometimes only 62 and top one always higher by heaps.



so meds have taken down lower one only seemingly but try to get a satisfactory explanation and you run up against a brick wall.



I much preferred the old Doctor we had in last suburb(city) but 400 k's away and have to take what you can get here(rural) which is overseas trained doctors mainly or go to the A&E;- same all overseas too -as many have closed off their books so anyone moving in out of luck on getting a GP.

I was always told it was the lower one that counted the most ? and it was always to be-- 70 or below--- seems that has all changed now--I also can't get any infomation from the Dr--I would like to know what going on.

Same here and for Lark too. I may have high top which I do know from hubbies old doc who was the one who told him him back in 1998 that the benchmark had been lowered on BP from 140/90 and he told him back then the top one is not really one that counts only the bottom one indicates trouble and as long as 90 or under in his opinion is okay - hubbie has bottom one of around 110 so straight on BP but hereditary as his mum and his two brothers all have high BP. No one in my family has ever.



I think PlanB it is greed on the part of the companies making these drugs. Also Doctors are informed and updated on various drugs for diseases by these same pharmaceutical companies by visits from their reps or rumoured by invitation to places like Hamilton Island for 3 days with their loved ones etc for a conference. -sigh- nice if you can go all expenses paid eh!



There has been some saying that the government must pay for reps to go around and update the doctors rather than drug companies because of course they have this conflict of interest. Selling as many to the doctors patients as possible. Plus as you said WHO who again are funded by business as well as governments.





Again follow the money trail and it always leads back to greed by some person wanting more transferred into their bank account from yours.



Seems to me that no one government of any persuasion - other than say hypothetical one made up of individuals without allegiance to any political party - care more these days for us than their own back pockets or their parties back pocket more likely or both as they wont be able to be candidates if they fail to tow the party line.

As I understand it the bottom reading is the main one they worry about. It does sound as though the companies are doing things to ensure people are put onto pills. Some chemists here in Perth occasionally have days where you can get your blood pressure checked for free and it is often done with the old type of equipment.

If you are not taking any anticoagulants or blood thinners of any sort try this drink - honey and cinnamon in warm water-which is meant to help a variety of ailments, colds, upset stomachs, bladder infection, blood pressure, cholestrol. Do it to your own taste and as often a day as you like and as often in a week as you like.

I did up drinks for a while when I had a bad cough caused by running for the bus and the cold air in my lungs started me coughing and then that upset my hiatus hernia which caused me to cough more.

It took some time for the cough to go as I am involved in things where i have to use my voice a lot so that too took its toll on my throat but it definately does help but as I say and must stress if you are taking anything that thins your blood-whether it be prescription medicine or something you can just buy from a health food shop check with your doctor first before trying this natural remedy..

Today I asked my doctor to check my blood-pressure with the old "mercury" equipment.

On the new, calibrated one it read: l49

On the old "mercury" one: l37 --- !

I was so excited (and in a hurry) that I forgot to look the lower reading! :red:

However, it is BIG difference, wouldn't you say, especially if you have to take tablet to remedy your situation!