At-home blood pressure tests not all equal

[admin]

The American Heart Association wants everyone with high blood pressure to check their pressure regularly with a home monitor to help keep it under control.

But some monitors give much more accurate readings than others, according to an analysis done by Consumer Reports.

The magazine tested 16 of the best-selling home devices against blood pressure measurements taken by medical technicians.

A similar analysis of 13 blood-glucose meters for diabetics also found big differences in accuracy, consistency and ease of use, the magazine reports in its September issue.

In general, blood pressure monitors with an upper-arm cuff gave more accurate readings than ones with a wrist or finger device.

For instance, Omron, the nation's top-selling brand, received the highest overall score for its Women's Advanced Elite blood pressure cuff, which sells for $100.

But a dual wrist monitor and blood glucose meter made by Duo-Care ($70) scored only 12 out of 100 possible points because of poor accuracy, the magazine said.

When in doubt about the accuracy of a home device, it doesn't hurt to have your doctor check the machine's results against his equipment, said Dr. Bruce Bernheim, an internal medicine physician at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

Of course, getting a reliable blood pressure monitor or glucose meter is only part of the equation.

"The biggest problem with meters is that people don't monitor their blood sugar often enough or at the right times," Bernheim said.