Looking for a good excuse for some outdoor adventure? A clinical study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology found that regularly riding motorized off-road vehicles, like ATV's and dirt bikes, can improve health-related fitness, improve quality of life, and even reduce blood pressure. It goes without saying that for speed-crazed gearheads, tearing around the countryside like a banshee is fun. But who knew that it could also be so...well...healthy? As for me, I think a new ATV is just what the doctor ordered. Happy trails, everyone!

A new study¹ published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension has reached the conclusion that when it comes to proper blood pressure (BP) measurement technique, most clinicians just aren’t very good at it. According to the authors, Minor et al, the purpose of the study was to “assess BP measurement accuracy and the level of adherence to recommended techniques throughout a large academic health science center.” As it turns out, the results were poor on both fronts and their statistical analysis indicates that technique does indeed impact accuracy.

SunTech has blogged on the importance of BP measurement in both arms before (see: Has My Physician Measured My BP in Both Arms?) and research articles continue to be published on this issue. But now, two new studies have been published showing that the benefits of BP measurement in both right and left arms could be a life saving step in routine care.

As any cardiologist will tell you, a cardiac stress test is a fundamental step to diagnosing a multitude of heart conditions and is a necessary tool for any cardiac care facility.  The average cardiac stress test lab contains ECG stress systems, Echocardiogram machines, treadmills, ergometers and …. manual blood pressure gauges?  With all of this automated equipment that allows us to remove variability and minimize inherent patient risk, why are we still trying to take blood pressures manually during a stress test?!

Anyone who has been a patient in a doctor’s office knows what it’s like to get their blood pressure (“hold still while I inflate this cuff”), body temperature (“put this under your tongue”), and weight (“don’t worry, I’m sure your clothes add a few pounds”) measured. Historically, the nurse would write all of the measurements down on a paper chart for the doctor to review, and the chart would later go into the patient’s permanent file. But really, paper and pen are so 20th Century. Aren’t they?

With the passing of the new healthcare law in 2010, more emphasis has been placed on reducing Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs) throughout acute-care hospitals. Not only does this new healthcare law have financial penalties for hospitals with the highest rates of HAIs, this law also requires mandatory public reporting of HAI rates for all hospitals in the United States.

Hospitals are currently implementing more stringent Infection Control Policies to reduce the spread of HAIs. Our current e-book details the 7 reasons why disposable cuffs should be a part of an effective infection control program and our Disposable Cuff ROI Calculator shows the potential cost savings of using disposable cuffs over reusable cuffs. So even though you know your healthcare facility needs to use to disposable cuffs, what should you look for when selecting and purchasing these cuffs?

This Valentine's Day, when you are out making a mad dash to your local pharmacy for the perfect card, you may consider checking your blood pressure at the pharmacy's kiosk. We'd like to whisper sweet nothings in your ear about 3 things to consider while having your BP measurement taken at a kiosk.

All caregivers need to trust the accuracy of automated blood pressure (BP) devices they use to make clinical decisions. But when considering one specific BP device versus another, how does one establish that trust? Well, an automated BP device that’s used to guide patient treatment is legally considered a medical device, and therefore must adhere to the regulatory guidelines for the markets in which it is sold.

We’ve written quite a bit here on the SunTech blog about BP technique. And guess what? We’re going to talk about it again! Maybe it’s not the most fascinating topic in the world of non-invasive blood pressure, but I think there are few as important to the successful treatment of high blood pressure. I must not be the only one, because studies that look at blood pressure technique continue to be published at a pretty good clip.

One of the more recent ones is aptly titled, “Blood Pressure Monitoring Technique Impacts Hypertension Treatment”. Authored by Ray et al and published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, this study compared the way that BP’s are normally taken during triage check-in on a population of 40 patients at the New Mexico Hospital Adult Internal Medicine Clinic. A study investigator observed the technique used by the clinician, and then took the patient’s BP using the AHA recommendations for blood pressure measurement published in 2005.