I have to disagree slightly. where s its good to be healthy and exercise, the availability of blood pressure monitors and such things have increased the number of over cautious patients going to their doctor, which is fine if you pay for it, but in the UK most don't and therefore wasting valuble time that could have been spent with someone whos in actual need to of help.
If a patient finds their blood pressure is high and seeks advice that is not a frivilous use of a social medicine system such as NHS. Statistics prove that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Someone who is aware of their cardiac health and discusses with their doctor will likely undertake a more healthy lifestyle to control it early. In the long term as that person ages they will cost the system much less overall.
These type of things available in shops aren't nearly as accurate as ones used in the profession
Most are extremely accurate, the technology is mature and not born yesterday. If you have any doubts as to the accuracy, take it with you to your doctor and compare it to their readings.
We go to the doctor for help for something we dont have the answer to yet, these days it seems like alot of patients going in there say whats wrong with them rather than letting the doctor find out..... not much point in going if you know whats wrong. let the doctor do his job
Are you suggesting that the doctor has ESP or X-ray vision? Unless you have a baseball size tumor growing off your back or some other obvious problem, the doctor is going to assume you are healthy. The only way they can diagnose an otherwise blatant illness is by patient feedback. By discussing symptoms to the best of a patient's ability the "doctor's job" is more likely to be productive.