On the day of my birthday this year I had the pleasure of visiting my GP for an annual MOT, also known as the NHS Health Check. In case you haven’t heard of it, or even had one, it is just like your MOT for car, and evaluates your body’s “performance” to detect any issues that may require attention. The aim is to lower your risk of getting conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Nothing to worry about, get weighed and have some blood taken. All was good until I stepped on the scales and saw that my weight had gone up again, despite cutting down on sugary snacks and drinks. Then only to find that my blood pressure, that it usually within normal range, had also gone up and was now high. So I have to go back in a few weeks for another check. Using the NHS app I was able to see results from my tests and rather than waiting for my appointment decided I would try and do something about it starting with some simple changes, changing fizzy drinks to drinking more water, no more salt on my dinners, changing white bread for my morning toast back to wholemeal bread and despite walking at least 5 miles every day I invested in an exercise bike to get some more exercise and try and lose a bit of weight. I also invested in an OxiPro BP1 Arm Type Blood Pressure Monitor so that I can measure and keep an eye on my blood pressure at home.
There are many reasons to monitor your blood pressure at home, which can include white coat syndrome or the white coat effect, which just means the anxiety of going to the clinic or GP surgery can temporarily raise your blood pressure. Plus measuring at home regularly can give your healthcare professional a more complete picture of what is going on instead of a reading every so often. And you can also see if any lifestyle changes or medication are actually working and going in the right direction. An easy and simple way for early detection of any problems and for ongoing management.
The OxiPro BP1 Arm Type Blood Pressure Monitor is a battery operated device that is a precision blood pressure monitor with arm cuff and is so simple to use and read the results. It has been Accuracy Certified ISO 13485, calibrated and tested to an accuracy of +/-3 mmHg in accordance with Medical Device Directive MDD 93/42/EEC. It is CE Certified and NHS supplied (supplied to the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust for home monitoring. This does not constitute an endorsement of the product).
In the box:
- Blood Pressure Monitor
- 22-42cm Arm Cuff
- 4x AA Batteries
- Instruction Manual
- Quick Start Guide
In a world where seeing a GP has changed a lot and can, at times, be hard to get an appointment (although I do like that I can message my GP and send pictures if required so they can review and message or call me), at home health monitoring can play an important part in looking after and monitoring our own health and wellbeing. Whilst I use the NHS app and the MyGP app to order repeat prescriptions, book appointments, read letters and test results, this isn’t for everyone and certainly not something my mum would consider using. But I like having the different options and not have to use one rather than the other. So when I was told that my blood pressure had gone high I thought that monitoring it myself at home would be a good idea (keeping track of the readings on a spreadsheet so that the readings are available for the nurse or GP to see them if required). There are lots of BP monitors available but the one that stood out for me was the OxiPro BP1 arm type blood pressure monitor. This device is not only celebrated for its clinical validation but also for its user-friendly design that caters to the needs of individuals keen on keeping track of their cardiovascular health.
The OxiPro BP1 boasts a sleek and modern aesthetic, making it a discreet yet stylish addition to any household. It’s lightweight and compact, which means it can be easily stored or transported, ensuring that you can monitor your blood pressure anytime, anywhere.
I wanted something that was certified for accuracy as well as being easy to use. The OxiPro BP1 delivers on both counts as well as being CE certified and ISO certified it is also supplied to the some NHS trusts. So I was confident that it would give an accurate reading as possible when used by me, a non-medical person.
The OxiPro BP1 is a battery operated device. It uses 4x AA batteries (which are supplied) and will give about 300 uses before they need replacing. I do like that it can also be used with a power adapter as well (one is not supplied so if you want to use this way you will need to purchase a 6v adapter with the correct size fitting).
After installing the batteries, using the device is very straightforward, so easy to use and simple to read the results. It features a large uncluttered interface that gives easy to read results, giving you blood pressure and pulse readings as well as low, normal, pre-high and high levels at a glance.
Before you measure your blood pressure at home:
- Avoid things that can raise your blood pressure in the short term: within half an hour of eating, smoking, drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee, or exercising. These can all raise your blood pressure temporarily.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes: this is so that you can fit the cuff around your arm.
- Rest for five minutes before you take your reading. Sit down somewhere quiet, ideally at a desk or table. Have your back supported with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor. Stay in this position while you take your blood pressure.
- Make sure your arm is supported and at the same level as your heart. Position yourself so that your arm is resting on a surface and is at the same height as your heart. Keep your arm and hand relaxed, not tensed.
- Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. If you are anxious or uncomfortable, your blood pressure will rise temporarily.
- Test at the same times each time to give accurate, comparable readings.
Using it is simple. Just slip your arm into the cuff (about 2cm above your elbow), it will fit arms with a circumference of between 22cm and 42cm, tighten it using the Velcro fastening. Plug it into the device (the instructions show the correct position to have you arm in) and with the press of a button, the device does the rest. The cuff quickly inflates to the optimal pressure, and the results are displayed promptly on the big easy to read screen (using large, easy to read numbers).
Accuracy is paramount when it comes to blood pressure monitors, and the OxiPro BP1 delivers on this front. It is trusted by healthcare professionals and has been validated for its precision. A normal blood pressure reading should be 120/80 or lower (although not lower than 90/60). This device will show you what range your reading is within or you can input the numbers into the NHS Blood Pressure Reading Tool.
I record my readings on a spreadsheet, but the device can store up to 99 readings for two different users, complete with time and date stamps. You can switch easily between users and record and store their blood pressure readings to easily go back through and check should you need to.
Overall, the OxiPro BP1 arm type blood pressure monitor is a reliable, accurate, and user-friendly device that offers peace of mind for those monitoring their blood pressure at home. It’s ease of use and affordability makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to invest in their health and well-being.
As well as measuring blood pressure and pulse, it also features Arrhythmia Detection, which detects if the heart is beating too fast, too slow or irregularly.
And it also features ComfortSense technology to personalise the pressure of the cuff to you, so that it gives a pleasant and comfortable measuring experience, it also alerts you if the cuff is fitted poorly.
It is excellent for measuring, recording and storing results and is small and portable that it can be used anywhere and even taken into the clinic or GP surgery so the healthcare professional can see the results, if required.
If you have a need to be monitoring your blood pressure, I think that the OxiPro BP1 is a quality device that is so easy to read and helps you understand results better rather than just spitting out numbers. And working in conjunction with a healthcare professional it can help get you the best course of treatment, whether that is lifestyle changes, medication or both.
Definitely a worthwhile investment for monitoring your blood pressure at home. If you haven’t yet, consider integrating home blood pressure monitoring into your home health routine. It’s a simple act that only takes a few minutes but one that could have a profound impact on your health journey.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £39.99
For more information or to buy direct, visit oxipro.io. Also available to buy from Amazon here.