Why You Might Not Be Able to Trust Your Local Blood Pressure KioskWhy You Might Not Be Able to Trust Your Local Blood Pressure Kiosk

These days it's never been easier to grab a simple blood pressure reading. Blood pressure kiosks have been popping up on almost every corner, from your local drug and grocery stores, to gymnasiums and even hair salons. But according to a recent report from the Food and Drug Administration, that convenience may be coming at the cost of reliable results. 

Recently the FDA issued an advisory over the accuracy of results reported by these blood pressure kiosks, citing that they often report inaccurate results due to the one-size-fits-all cuffs used during the process. Using the correct cuff size is a critical factor when accurately measuring blood pressure. If a patient uses a cuff that is too small, the machine may report artificially high blood pressure readings, while a cuff that is too large may report an artificially low reading or produce no reading at all.

Another unavoidable complication is user error. Frequently patients will not place the cuff on the arm properly, while others may not be sitting in a position that facilitates a proper reading, mistakes that can affect the accuracy of the results. In an interview with the Cleveland Clinic, hypertension specialist George Thomas, MD, spoke about how these factors can impact the results.

"You should be seated and your back should be supported," he said. "Your legs should be on the ground and uncrossed. Your arm should be extended at heart level and you should use a blood pressure machine with a properly fitting arm cuff that goes completely around the arm."

Blood pressure is a significant indicator used to measure cardiovascular health, and the conveniency of the kiosks has led to a myriad of other various monitoring devices. From headphones that monitor and measure cardiovascular readings, to Samsung's latest smartphone that comes with heart monitoring capabilities. Which begs the question: Can these handheld devices be trusted any better than the kiosk around the corner?

It is important to note that health care providers diagnose hypertension based on several blood pressure measurements taken over a period of time. This is why many physicians suggest monitoring your blood pressure in between doctor visits in an effort to gather an aggregate amount of readings. 

Despite the potential margin for error, taking your own blood pressure readings can be an essential part of monitoring your cardiovascular health. Although many blood pressure kiosks may have their limitations, they can still provide valuable information when used properly under a health care provider's guidance. Many physicians also recommend buying your own personal blood pressure cuff that fits properly, and can be used at home to accurately track your own readings.

Whether you decide to use recent technology, or old school techniques to measure blood pressure, it's important to share your results with your doctor to get a better idea of what works best for you. The increasing ease with which technology affords us health monitoring devices also produces new challenges. Any sudden changes in the results may not be a direct indicator of a health risk anymore, but rather a flaw in the method used to gather the information. 

Kristopher Sturgis is a contributor to Qmed and MPMN.

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