Talk Quesada forum

quote="Steve wilkins"]Just to chip in with my 2 pence worth. When getting your blood pressure checked, make sure it is taken properly. There are several things which can affect the reading, and therefore the accuracy of the test. Such things as sitting down and relaxing for 10-15 minutes before the test, or having the test taken over clothing as opposed to not, or if you have had a coffee that day etc. It is also best to take a test every day for several days to work out the average. All common sense to anyone, but you'd be surprised how many health "professionals" skip on these essentials. I know the pharmacy tests that i have seen are taken when you're standing up. A big no no. And usually you get out of a car, march into the pharmacy, and get it taken there and then. And for those who have high blood pressure, i have found that eating a fresh mixed and colourful salad each day with a avocado in it can bring it down significantly (from personal experience). Regards.[/quote]

Used to get my BP checked regularly at the farmacia by the old bridge in Rojales, i got quite scared after a while with some very unusual readings so went to see Dr Ballester at the arches medical centre. Outcome was my BP was fine & Dr said not to trust farmacia machines as they are rarely calibrated therefore unreliable.

Mac3blade wrote:You can go into your local pharmacy anytime and ask for your blood pressure to be taken. There’s no charge and it’s all very efficient. We have a monitor but when the GP takes it, it’s always less than ours.

se have a machine at home identical to the used by our doctor. Periodically we have our tested at the pharmacy for accuracy.

I bought one from Amazon. I still have it checked every couple of months at my doctors, I check this reading against a reading from my machine to check its accuracy, which is usually good. At home I do two readings 15 mins apart, the second is often quite lower as I am more relaxed.

BP tends to be higher first thing in the morning when you get up so give yourself a little time before taking it.