EXPERTS QUESTION ACCURACY OF BLOOD PRESSURE READING DEVICES
50 Million People Suffering from High Blood Pressure At Risk of Inaccurate Readings
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the number one killer in the United States. However, while testing blood pressure can save lives, more and more patients are receiving inaccurate readings. Now some experts are calling into question the accuracy of some of the devices used to read blood pressure.
There are three ways to measure blood pressure - aneroid, digital and mercury-gravity manometer. Now there is growing concern among some experts regarding the accuracy of aneroid and digital devices, which are currently used in more hospitals and doctor's offices across the country. A recent study cited in The New York Times indicated that approximately 30 percent of aneroid devices in use in doctors' offices and hospitals were inaccurate, putting patient's lives at risk.
If not calibrated correctly, aneroid and digital devices can lead to misdiagnosis and even death. These devices are actually calibrated to the mercury-gravity manometer, which most experts agree offers the most accurate blood pressure readings.
According to the American Heart Association, 50 million Americans over the age of 6 have high blood pressure, and almost a third of them don't even know they have hypertension. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure are: Three times more likely to develop coronary disease; six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure; seven times more likely to have a stroke. High blood pressure can cause heart and kidney disease, a stroke, even death.
