Hilo - 24h blood pressure monitoring

[keefer]

A minor issue earlier this year resulted in discovering I have quite high blood pressure...  I've taken obvious steps to fix this (ramipril, more exercise, much more walking) and have just retired (after almost 50 years working).

After a lot of googling was surprised there are very few continuous monitor solutions (I would have thought apple watch would do this) - but spotted one option which appealed.   I took the plunge last week and bought a Hilo:  it looks like a watch band, but takes blood pressure readings every 30-40 minutes, sending diagnostics to an app on my iphone...   and the past week I've become quite obsessed with the readings.

Anyone else bought one of these (or anything similar) - and have opinions, and also suggestions of what's worked for you to reduce blood pressure ?

if interested...   

Hilo | Easy 24/7 blood pressure monitoring

HILO.COM

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Get stress-free readings round the clock with Hilo's clinically validated blood pressure monitor. Learn more

 

  

[b2bf]

14 minutes ago, keefer said:

A minor issue earlier this year resulted in discovering I have quite high blood pressure...  I've taken obvious steps to fix this (ramipril, more exercise, much more walking) and have just retired (after almost 50 years working).

After a lot of googling was surprised there are very few continuous monitor solutions (I would have thought apple watch would do this) - but spotted one option which appealed.   I took the plunge last week and bought a Hilo:  it looks like a watch band, but takes blood pressure readings every 30-40 minutes, sending diagnostics to an app on my iphone...   and the past week I've become quite obsessed with the readings.

Anyone else bought one of these (or anything similar) - and have opinions, and also suggestions of what's worked for you to reduce blood pressure ?

if interested...   

Hilo | Easy 24/7 blood pressure monitoring

HILO.COM

---

Get stress-free readings round the clock with Hilo's clinically validated blood pressure monitor. Learn more

 

  

Yes. I bought mine about a six months ago. I don't actually put a lot of store in the individual readings but I do count on it to be able to identify trends. It takes about 20-30 readings a day. The rechargeable battery lasts about 10 days. I usually top it up while I shower. The device requires synchronization with a cuff (which is part of the package) at least every 25 days. They are now recommending more frequent synchronization (no doubt from real world experience). I do it every week. So far so good.
I don't have a blood pressure problem but readings from the doctor's office gave the impression that I did (white coat effect). I was particularly bad at changing my routine to regularly take my blood pressure so this provided an alternative.

[+ Just966]

Sounds interesting. Can you tell me if you purchased on line from Hilo in Britain or were you able to purchase more locally?

[keefer]

1 hour ago, Just966 said:

Sounds interesting. Can you tell me if you purchased on line from Hilo in Britain or were you able to purchase more locally?

I've actually purchased two - one for myself, one for my husband.   Purchased both from the Hilo UK site (as we live in London).  Both arrived a few days after purchase.    As @b2bf mentioned, they also provide a standard cuff (for synchronisation), thus we left both bands and cuffs powered in overnight - and the next morning downloaded the app which provided really good step-by-step prompts to get everything sync'd, get initial measurements, and start using the device -- all in about 20 minutes.

As @b2bf mentioned, the app suggests using the cuff once a month, but I was also planning to do it more frequently and will probably follow his suggestion of weekly.

[b2bf]

17 hours ago, Just966 said:

Can you tell me if you purchased on line from Hilo in Britain or were you able to purchase more locally?

I'm in Canada. I bought mine online on January 27th. At that time the product was being marketed under the Aktiia name (that is still the producing company) based in Switzerland. Although they don't indicate ever marketing to the Canadian market, my product was shipped within two days from a logistics company (Polydyn Inc) outside of Toronto which means they were already staging the product for sales in Canada.

[+ Just966]

Great thanks! Also in Canada so great to hear. Assuming you are happy with it and finding it accurate? Can I ask if you pay for the Hilo membership which supposedly gives you more robust data or use it without for the shorter (one week I believe) data? Thanks!

Edited 19 hours ago by Just966

[josh282282]

Good morning 

Primary care physician here.   I work in a mid-size physician group on the east coast (not NYC) & do this (treating patients high pressure) for work all day long, so I'm familiar with your issue & I'm rooting for you to conquer it!

22 hours ago, keefer said:

A minor issue earlier this year resulted in discovering I have quite high blood pressure.

You do not have a "minor" problem.  You have hypertension,  also known as high blood pressure.  Its in the family of cardiovascular disease.

Its dangerous & potentially lethal. 

Its the number 1 killer of Americans (I am aware you live in the UK but I did not investigate UK health statistics),  which means more deaths than cancer.  Are you aware of that?

If your doctor told you that you had cancer, would consider it to be a "minor" issue? 

I'm not trying to be indelicate or confrontational but (hopefully) educational.   Your health future depends on you fully understanding & controlling your blood pressure.  Gay folk are wonderful & beautiful and we can't afford to lose one of us prematurely.

22 hours ago, keefer said:

  I've taken obvious steps to fix this (ramipril, more exercise, much more walking)

Strong work on the exercise! It may help. Keep it up.

A) Other interventions to consider:

1) lose 15 lbs (if that applies to you)

2) significantly reduce (best is stop) your alcohol intake. Maximum is 2 drinks per week (on 2 different days, not 2 drinks on 1 day).

3) reduce your salt intake. (For example- canned soup has crazy high amounts of sodium)

4) stop all nicotine products (yes, even vaping is smoking).

B) Is your blood pressure controlled? If not, are you on max dose ramipril 20 mg a day? If so, are you only on ramipril? Most people with high blood pressure need 2 (or more!) medications to adequately control their blood pressure.  When is your next appointment with your primary care physician?

I wish you all the best in your journey in getting healthier!

Josh

 

[+ nycman]

Unless you’re having a medical emergency (and trust me you’re not) continuous blood pressure monitoring isn’t smart.

Go see your doctor on a regular basis and get your blood pressure checked on each visit.

Then take appropriate steps to address your hypertension over time.

Hypertension doesn’t start overnight and although chronic hypertension is deadly, it doesn’t kill overnight.

Unless you’re having a medical emergency (and trust me you’re not) slow and steady control wins the race.

[+ Just966]

My issue is that my blood pressure fluctuates widely. I am on blood pressure medication and whenever I have it takes in the Drs office it is high. At home on a cuff it has been generally okay but also have times it runs quite high and then will come back down. At one point Dr added a low dose diuretic which brought it down but then started being too low and was having periods when I would get light headed and would need to sit down. This increased in frequency and so he discontinued diuretic as was too low even in clinic. Now is going up and down again and that was why I was thinking continuous at home  be helpful to get a handle on what it really is. I appear to have white coat syndrome as well as always sig higher in clinic then at home. Thought a continuous might give a better idea. I am 70 but in decent shape biking 30-50 kms a day in summer, xcountry ski 10-18 kms a day in winter and play pickle ball for a couple of hours 2-3 times a week. When I read the original post thought continuous might give a better idea. 

[+ Just966]

I also forgot to indicate I did have a heart attack about 7 years ago which required two stents while biking in Croatia. Nothing since then. 

[keefer]

And, to add to what @Just966 posted;  a single data point taken once a month in the Doctors office (situated at top of a hill, and her office is upstairs in an old Victorian) doesn't tell me anything.   I've never smoked, alcohol has dropped to (almost) nothing since start of year, since retiring at the end of September I no longer drink coffee, my exercise has increased an order of magnitude, most days 15-17k steps, some days over 25k steps.   Besides my better judgement some days I've managed vegan lunches 🙂

I remember my attitude changed when I read "Acceptable Risks" by Jonathan Kwitny (1992?); especially as I had many close friends who were dying, and at the time was an AIDs buddy.  Being a second set of ears in meetings with doctors was critical, even more so if we came to the appointment with real questions, real data.  I view this as an opportunity to have more data in my once a month 10 minute appointment.    

I guess what I'm trying to say is: at this point I'd rather have too much information than a single data point in stressful surroundings.

And, in the past week I've learnt a lot :  my pressure is consistently much lower at certain times of the day as well as overnight...   watching porn had virtually no impact...   and vegan lunches didn't harm me 😁

Edited 11 hours ago by keefer

[+ Just966]

You better be careful of those vegan lunches though, I hear they can become addictive😋😂