Monitoring your blood pressure at home with the help of your health care provider is an important part of improving your levels. Blood pressure measurements taken at home allow you to take more regular readings, track changes over time, and assist your provider in recommending appropriate lifestyle adjustments or drug treatment plans.
Some insurance policies, but not all, cover the cost of a blood pressure monitor for home use. Make sure to double-check coverage details with your insurance. You have alternative possibilities if the cost of a monitor isn’t covered:
- Inquire about a lending program for blood pressure monitors. For patients with prehypertension or high blood pressure, your provider or medical group may provide a free blood pressure monitor loan program. This allows you to borrow a blood pressure monitor for a set length of time, share your results with your doctor, make any required treatment changes, and then return it to be used by another patient.
- Using an FSA can help you save money. If your work offers a flexible spending account (FSA), you could be able to save a lot of money on a blood pressure monitor as well as other medical costs including co-pays, deductibles, and other medical/dental costs. What is the mechanism behind it? Before taxes are deducted, employees can set aside money from each paycheck to pay for certain medical bills that their insurance does not cover. Using your FSA to pay for a $50 blood pressure monitor, for example, can save you around $14 in taxes that would otherwise be withheld from your $50 in wages. Before you do anything, check with your employer to make sure your FSA options (including enrollment dates) and that blood pressure monitors are covered.
- Invest in a low-priced blood pressure monitor. Inquire with your doctor about low-cost blood pressure monitors that deliver precise readings. Your health-care providers are likely to be aware of various pricing points as well as which pharmacies or retail establishments offer the best deals. Also keep a look out for coupons!
- Consider alternatives to staying at home. If you’re reading this, you’re presumably interested in taking your blood pressure outside of the doctor’s office on a regular basis. Look into different options for getting your blood pressure checked on a regular basis outside of your home. Your doctor’s office, for example, may provide free or low-cost blood pressure readings without an appointment. Customers can also use free kiosks at numerous pharmacies and supermarket stores. Blood pressure monitors may be available for use at other community sites, such as your faith-based group or local gym. Simply keep note of all of your readings using paper and ink or an app.
All blood pressure monitors at home are not created equal. Check with your doctor or health-care team to ensure that your blood pressure monitor is accurate and that you understand how to take an accurate reading. After all, you don’t want to spend money on a system that doesn’t give you the information you need, do you?
Measure Up/Pressure Down provided the content for this article. The American Medical Group Foundation launched Measure Up/Pressure Down, a three-year national program to improve blood pressure regulation. Our pamphlet, Circulation Nation: Your Roadmap to Managing High Blood Pressure, will teach you how to minimize your risk and manage the disease.
Can I get a blood pressure monitor for free?
Hypertension, often known as high blood pressure, affects about half of all adults in the United States. Only one out of every four persons with hypertension has it under control, putting them at risk for heart attack or stroke. Regularly testing your blood pressure is one of a number of tools that can help you manage high blood pressure, and a home blood pressure monitor can help you do so. You might be asking if Medicaid covers blood pressure monitors if you’re concerned about your own blood pressure and want to keep track of it.
Does Blue Shield cover blood pressure monitors?
Members of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan with hypertension may be eligible for a free blood pressure monitor under the Hypertension Management Program.
Can my doctor prescribe a blood pressure monitor?
Do you intend to use a blood pressure monitor in the near future? You’re a part of a rapidly expanding group. More and more patients with high blood pressure are being advised by doctors to check their levels at home.
Why? Your blood pressure reading at the doctor’s office only displays your current numbers. A home monitor allows you to check it frequently. This can help your doctor figure out what your true blood pressure is. Measuring your blood pressure multiple times a day for a few months is the best approach to know for sure if you have high blood pressure.
There are numerous blood pressure monitors available for purchase at home. Many of them are under $100. You do not require a prescription to obtain one. They’re available at your neighborhood pharmacy, a cheap store, a medical supply store, and online.
You can also select a model to wear on your arm or wrist during the day. However, not all of them are correct. That is why you should take your blood pressure monitor to your doctor before you start using it. They might compare it to the ones in their office.
How much does a blood pressure machine cost?
- The majority of blood pressure kits include an adult-sized cuff. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, blood pressure measurements are most reliable when the patient wears a blood pressure cuff that fits his or her arm. When taking the blood pressure of a youngster or someone with a big arm circumference, this is very important. Blood pressure cuffs range in price from $10 to $25 depending on the size.
- Blood pressure monitoring kits are not normally covered by insurance, but if you have issues regarding coverage, contact your insurance company. A patient’s flexible spending account or health savings account may be used to repay this type of expenditure.
- The majority of blood pressure kits include an arm cuff as well as a device for recording the blood pressure reading. This method could be as simple as a gauge, like a manual blood pressure kit, or as complex as a machine with a digital display, like an automatic blood pressure kit. A stethoscope should be included in all manual kits.
- Batteries are required for an automatic blood pressure monitor. As needed, these will need to be changed. The price will vary depending on the type and quantity of batteries needed.
- According to the American Heart Association, blood pressure kits should be checked for accuracy once a year or if the device is dropped or disturbed. The accuracy of a home machine can be tested by comparing it to one utilized in a doctor’s office or clinic. Calibration is required if the readings differ.
- Calibration must be handled by the business. Depending on the warranty, it may be free.
- Blood pressure monitors can be found at most pharmacies and online medical supply stores. Patients do not need a prescription to acquire a blood pressure monitor, but it is a good idea to seek a doctor for a recommendation.
- Patients should check to see if their kit has been validated before purchasing it, according to the Mayo Clinic. Patients can ask the manufacturer or a physician’s office if a kit has been validated. The accuracy of the kit has been verified by validation.
- It can be difficult to decide the sort of blood pressure kit to buy. According to the Analytical Spectroscopy Research Group, manual blood pressure monitors are the most accurate and least expensive type of equipment available. These technologies, however, necessitate that the user has strong hearing and eyesight. This style of monitor is straightforward to read, but it may take some practice. Patients should consider whether reading the gauge and listening to their heartbeat with a stethoscope is something they are comfortable doing. The American Heart Association provides instructions for using a manual monitor to acquire a reliable reading.
- The cost of an automatic blood pressure kit is more, but it is reasonably simple to operate. There are numerous types to choose from. Consult a doctor or pharmacist to determine which aspects are most appropriate for the individual’s medical situation.
- A cuff should fit snugly, but the patient should be able to slip one finger inside when it is deflated, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Size parameters should be included in the information booklet or on the packaging for each cuff. If you’re having trouble finding an appropriate-sized cuff, talk to a pharmacy or call a doctor’s office.
Are doctor’s office blood pressure machines accurate?
Many blood pressure monitors are as accurate as those at your doctor’s office, but the more startling fact is that for many people, taking their blood pressure at home is a more accurate assessment of their actual blood pressure than taking it at the doctor’s office.
Does CVS check blood pressure?
MinuteClinic providers are trained to measure and assess your blood pressure and to explain the meaning of your results. They can give you with a specific initial treatment plan if your diagnosis reveals high blood pressure.
Does Medicare pay for BP monitor?
When a doctor orders it, Medicare will cover the cost of an ambulatory blood pressure monitor once a year. Except for patients who are having dialysis at home, it does not cover standard “cuff” blood pressure monitors.
What is Livongo blood pressure monitor?
Mountain View, California 15 March 2019 People with diabetes and uncontrolled high blood pressure who used the Livongo for Hypertension solution saw significant drops in their blood pressure within six weeks, according to Livongo, the leading Applied Health Signals company empowering people with chronic conditions to live better and healthier lives. The Livongo for Hypertension solution comprises a smartphone app that allows participants to remotely monitor their blood pressure, as well as lifestyle suggestions and the ability to contact with a health coach. The findings of the study will be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 68th Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 18, 2019.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every three persons in the United States has excessive blood pressure, with only around 54% of them having it under control. Hypertension costs the United States $131 billion in health-care costs per year. People with hypertension nowadays are given little instruction outside of their visits to the doctor’s office. Many persons with high blood pressure do not comprehend how behavioral and lifestyle changes affect their blood pressure unless they receive ongoing care.
“Dr. Bimal R. Shah, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Livongo, Assistant Professor at Duke University School of Medicine, and senior author of the study, said, “By giving our Members the ability to monitor their blood pressure readings at home and providing personalized insights and coaching to help them better understand their health, we were able to drive meaningful behavior change that led to significant clinical outcomes at six weeks without the use of medication.” “This study effectively demonstrates how we can empower health consumers to live healthier lives by providing them with the resources they need to better manage their health.”
At six weeks, study participants with systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood-pressure reading) greater than 130/80 mm Hg saw their systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood-pressure reading) drop by an average of 11.2 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of a blood-pressure reading) drop by 5.2 mm Hg. Participants lowered their risk of consequences such as heart disease, stroke, and renal disease by better regulating their blood pressure.
The 708 participants in the study were on average 54 years old, with women accounting for 53 percent of the total. All of them had diabetes at the start of the study, and 63 percent had blood pressure that was higher than 130/80 mm Hg, the threshold for a diagnosis of stage 1 high blood pressure, according to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association’s revised guideline released in 2017. A subset (28.7%) had blood pressure that was higher than 140/90 mm Hg, the ACC/AHA guideline’s stage 2 high blood pressure criteria.
All of the participants were given a blood pressure monitor and cuff that connected to Livongo’s smartphone app via Bluetooth. Participants took their blood pressure four times a week on average, and the readings were automatically transferred to Livongo’s Applied Health Signals platform when they had their cellphones nearby. Participants could open the app after each reading to evaluate their results and receive advice on how to lower their blood pressure by stopping smoking, eating a nutritious diet, increasing physical activity, and losing weight. Participants may also compare their blood pressure readings over time, schedule a call with a Livongo health coach, and share their findings with family, friends, or healthcare providers using the Livongo app.
Livongo recently announced that its voice-enabled cellular blood pressure monitoring solution will be powered by Amazon Lex and Amazon Polly. Livongo Members may effortlessly communicate with Livongo via the most natural and customized communication channel their voice with the Livongo for Hypertension voice experience. This new feature complements Livongo’s well-established product by providing a new way to deliver actionable, tailored, and timely health signals that encourage behavior change and improve clinical outcomes.
R. Merai, C. Siegel, M. Rakotz, P. Basch, J. Wright, B. Wong; DHSc., P. Thorpe A Public Health Approach to Detecting and Controlling Hypertension at the CDC Grand Rounds 2016 Nov 18;65(45):1261-1264; MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016 Nov 18;65(45):1261-1264; MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016 Nov 18;65
R. Merai, C. Siegel, M. Rakotz, P. Basch, J. Wright, B. Wong; DHSc., P. Thorpe A Public Health Approach to Detecting and Controlling Hypertension at the CDC Grand Rounds 2016 Nov 18;65(45):1261-1264. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016 Nov 18;65(45):1261-1264.
Feel your pulse
Your doctor will assess your heart rate, rhythm, and regularity by feeling your pulse. Each pulse corresponds to a heartbeat that circulates blood via the arteries. The amount (strength) of blood flow to different parts of your body is also determined by the force of your pulse.
By feeling your pulse, you can determine how rapidly your heart is pounding (heart rate). The number of times your heart beats in one minute is your heart rate.
- Place your index and middle fingers on the opposite arm’s inner wrist, right below the base of the thumb.
- You can tell if your heart beat is regular or not by feeling your pulse.
Listen to your heart
A stethoscope is used by your doctor to listen to your heart. The heart sounds are the noises made by your valves opening and shutting (“lub dub”). By listening to your heart sounds, the doctor can assess your heart and valve function as well as hear your heart’s rate and rhythm.
The force or pressure exerted in the arteries by blood as it is circulated around the body by the heart is known as blood pressure. It’s broken down into two parts:
- Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart (the higher number)
- Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats while the heart is resting (the lower number)
By placing a stethoscope on your artery and inflating up a cuff around your arm, a doctor or nurse can listen to your blood pressure. A particular meter called a sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure.
In a sphygmomanometer, blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which refers to how high the pressure in the arteries can elevate a mercury column.
BP facts:
- If you’re not on blood pressure medication, your blood pressure should be less than 120/80.
- Your blood pressure readings aren’t always consistent. Your blood pressure rises as you exercise or become stimulated. Your blood pressure will be lower when you are at rest. This is a common reaction to activity or emotion changes. Blood pressure can be affected by age, drugs, and changes in position.
- A single elevated blood pressure reading does not imply that you have hypertension. To determine if your average blood pressure measurement is correct, take your blood pressure at several periods while resting.
How can I bring my blood pressure down immediately?
Contact your doctor right away if you experience any consequences from high blood pressure, such as a stroke or heart attack. In such critical situations, avoid attempting home treatments. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) but no other symptoms, the first thing you should do is relax and lie down. Set aside the activity at hand and gradually begin to take deep breaths. This stress-relieving strategy aids in the reduction of blood pressure to some level. If relaxation techniques don’t work, see a doctor right away. Also, if your blood pressure is not managed by lifestyle modifications or food, don’t forget to take your antihypertensive drugs.
The most common treatment for high blood pressure is medication. Medication can be gradually reduced as blood pressure improves as a result of lifestyle changes. Stroke, heart attack, and other consequences are reduced when medications are combined with a balanced diet.