Blood Pressure...

purrr said:
Can't seem to find Omron in SA. Where did you get it?
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www.paramedicshop.co.za

Blood Pressure Meters

"Your exclusive online Paramedic, Medic and first aid equipment and disposables store"
www.paramedicshop.co.za www.paramedicshop.co.za

any cardiac related equipment - i can usually help / source



and for the diy enthusiast:
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Thanks for updating this thread, it was a reminder to me.

It made me take out my Tensoval, install new batteries and take my blood pressure.
BP seems OK but will continue to measure it.
In August I have an appointment with the doctor, he is expecting a spreadsheet of 2 weeks of morning and evening BP readings, so starting now.

August is a follow up appointment on my Blood Pressure.
This doctor doubles up as an endocrinologist who ordered blood work to be done, namely HBA1C, Vit D and Vit B12.
Readings were good with 36 on Vit D, 545 for B12 and a nice reading of 5.3 on the HBA1C.
I was worried about my sugar; my late dad was heavily diabetic in his old age.


The diet which I'm currently following, is OMAD 6 hours, with preference for proteins, and very little or no starch if possible.
Not easy to avoid starchy foods these days.
I don't consume much alcohol, unless it's a social event.
Need to get out and exercise, it's just so damn cold.
 
I honestly wonder how some nurses developed a human brain :

Waiting in line at SARS, next door is a chemist... nurse comes out asking if anyone is on Discovery and wants a free medical check, so off I waddle.

1) puts the BP monitor on my right arm
2) puts the cuff over my jersey
3) starts chatting to me
4) arm hanging straight down
5) I ask, "are you sure this is ok, shouldn't it be on the other arm and would you like me to take my jersey off?" nah it's all the same don't worry & stop being a know it all.

BP was a way high reading, and that goes on my Discovery report to my medical aid.... wonderful

Oh and she was a white bat in her late 50's...

There is no hope for SA.
 
Grant said:
i've beaten that one by a long stretch - managed 220/140.
admittedly paramedics and ambulance carted me off at 4.30am.

from march this year- 2 heart attacks, each at differing areas of the heart - its a case of flying way too close to the sun.
we can usually withstand a heart attack in one area, and often emerge unscathed - two areas and that heart attack it creeping to cardiac arrest.
so it brings me to a total of 6 heart attacks over the last 4 years.
4 were mild. barely uncomfortable & very easily manageable. number 6 was "medium" i guess
number 5 was severe, but the ambulance had just got me into the emergency dept - nurse was busy doing an ecg when it happened. she thought the equipment was faulty and rushed off for another ecg monitor.
she thought the 2nd one was faulty as well, then it dawned on her it was not the equipment that was faulty, but instead the patient that was defective.
cardiologist comes running in brandishing the syringe from hell - a needle a mile long and its body like an eveready battery.
no time for idle chit chat & pleasantries - without warning he impales me in the abdomen with the thing.
with that, it was like living the redbull downhill challenge - being wheeled of to theatre.
i just remember the ceiling lights in the passage passing over me in quick succession - like a scene from "one flew over the cuckoos nest".
quite funny in retrospect !

View attachment 1913336
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Reading this, I'm realising how lucky my dad is. Last week Wednesday, got shocked awake by a loud weird noise that sounded like an animal getting mauled and the my mother shouting for my help only to find my father in full seizure and struggling to breath. Managed to get the seizure and his breathing under control by the time the ambulance arrived. When the paramedics arrived and checked him, his blood pressure was 238/119. What it was at the the time of the seizure, I can only guess. He's been in hospital since last week and his bp only dropped below 200 yesterday. Funny thing is, he says that he feels totally fine - no headaches, no dizzyness, no shortness of breath and no other aches or pains at all.
 
Ghoster79 said:
Reading this, I'm realising how lucky my dad is. Last week Wednesday, got shocked awake by a loud weird noise that sounded like an animal getting mauled and the my mother shouting for my help only to find my father in full seizure and struggling to breath. Managed to get the seizure and his breathing under control by the time the ambulance arrived. When the paramedics arrived and checked him, his blood pressure was 238/119. What it was at the the time of the seizure, I can only guess. He's been in hospital since last week and his bp only dropped below 200 yesterday. Funny thing is, he says that he feels totally fine - no headaches, no dizzyness, no shortness of breath and no other aches or pains at all.
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Yeah and that is why high BP is dangerous. :-(
 
Ghoster79 said:
He's been in hospital since last week and his bp only dropped below 200 yesterday.
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for the most part, it is better to bring bp back down slowly, bp is probably being reduced slowly and steadily using iv meds.
a sudden drop of 25% + can very quickly lead to a stroke or organ damage.

remember the story of the tortoise & the hare ....
 
Grant said:
for the most part, it is better to bring bp back down slowly, bp is probably being reduced slowly and steadily using iv meds.
a sudden drop of 25% + can very quickly lead to a stroke or organ damage.

remember the story of the tortoise & the hare ....
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How is yours now?
 
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Grant said:
for the most part, it is better to bring bp back down slowly, bp is probably being reduced slowly and steadily using iv meds.
a sudden drop of 25% + can very quickly lead to a stroke or organ damage.

remember the story of the tortoise & the hare ....
Click to expand...
Agree with you totally - he is actually being discharged today. His BP is peaking at 140/90 with his meds and the doctor says as long as he monitors it and keeps it steady, she's happy to let go home. I was also a little concerned that it might have been dropping a bit quick and maybe it might drop too low if the meds were too strong, but the doc is confident it should settle in a decent level over the next few days
 
Grant said:
like a cheap toodolla ho - all over the place

View attachment 1938419
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It's very high, you should get it assessed urgently.

You've worked in the health field so, afterwards:

Make sure to get a proper calibrated machine and of course use it properly.

How to check BP:
or summary:

CleanShot 2026-09-17 at 22.15.51@2x.png

Two recommendations for home measurement:

medipro.co.za

Welch Allyn ProBP 2000 Digital Blood Pressure Device | MediPro South Africa

Capture fast, comfortable, automated blood pressure readings with one button touch with the Welch Allyn ProBP 2000 Blood pressure monitor. Ships with Power supply and Adult Size 11 Flexiport cuff (25–34 cm).
medipro.co.za medipro.co.za

I use this one at home and for relatives:
medipro.co.za

Welch Allyn ProBP 2400 Digital NIBP Device | MediPro South Africa

Welch Allyn ProBP 2400 Digital Blood Pressure Device. The fast, dependable, accurate and affordable device for blood pressure averaging or routine readings.
medipro.co.za medipro.co.za

Good place to have these calibrated is Physio Med, 021 903 5275.
 
Mirai said:
It's very high, you should get it assessed urgently.

You've worked in the health field so, afterwards:

Make sure to get a proper calibrated machine and of course use it properly.

How to check BP:
or summary:

View attachment 1938428

Two recommendations for home measurement:

medipro.co.za

Welch Allyn ProBP 2000 Digital Blood Pressure Device | MediPro South Africa

Capture fast, comfortable, automated blood pressure readings with one button touch with the Welch Allyn ProBP 2000 Blood pressure monitor. Ships with Power supply and Adult Size 11 Flexiport cuff (25–34 cm).
medipro.co.za medipro.co.za

I use this one at home and for relatives:
medipro.co.za

Welch Allyn ProBP 2400 Digital NIBP Device | MediPro South Africa

Welch Allyn ProBP 2400 Digital Blood Pressure Device. The fast, dependable, accurate and affordable device for blood pressure averaging or routine readings.
medipro.co.za medipro.co.za

Good place to have these calibrated is Physio Med, 021 903 5275.
Click to expand...
And also don't forget to take the average of 3 readings. Most medical professionals take the first reading when you've just walked in, and then tell you that you've got hypertension.
 
Mirai said:
It's very high, you should get it assessed urgently.

You've worked in the health field so, afterwards:

Make sure to get a proper calibrated machine and of course use it properly.

How to check BP:
or summary:

View attachment 1938428

Two recommendations for home measurement:

medipro.co.za

Welch Allyn ProBP 2000 Digital Blood Pressure Device | MediPro South Africa

Capture fast, comfortable, automated blood pressure readings with one button touch with the Welch Allyn ProBP 2000 Blood pressure monitor. Ships with Power supply and Adult Size 11 Flexiport cuff (25–34 cm).
medipro.co.za medipro.co.za

I use this one at home and for relatives:
medipro.co.za

Welch Allyn ProBP 2400 Digital NIBP Device | MediPro South Africa

Welch Allyn ProBP 2400 Digital Blood Pressure Device. The fast, dependable, accurate and affordable device for blood pressure averaging or routine readings.
medipro.co.za medipro.co.za

Good place to have these calibrated is Physio Med, 021 903 5275.
Click to expand...
i have a good pair of decent quality units, one is in fact welchallyn - the very same as netcare use bedside.

ecg's get progressively worse - these are about 9months apart
2026-09-18 at 07.22.25.jpeg

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2026-09-18 at 07.22.26.jpeg

although much is "family tradition". - i'm equally to blame.

there is a story:
"dumpty dumpty sat on the wall . . ."


my only concern is going into cardiac arrest in the fresh produce section of spar - then photos land up peppered all over social media when my sorry corpse is dragged out of there !
 
The Voice said:
And also don't forget to take the average of 3 readings. Most medical professionals take the first reading when you've just walked in, and then tell you that you've got hypertension.
Click to expand...

Also take your blood pressures in the morning and in the evening.
 
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