Britain’s obese patients ‘are too fat to have their blood pressure taken’

BRITAIN’S obesity epidemic means many patients are now too fat to have their blood pressure taken.

Doctors have been forced to develop a new monitoring device which straps to the wrist rather than round the upper arm.

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It includes an LED positioning sensor and links to an app which patients can use to monitor blood pressure and heartbeat.

Both are important for detecting danger of heart attacks or stroke, with fat people more at risk.

Prof Roland Asmar, of The Cardiovascular Institute in Paris, said tests showed the device gave better readings for those with an arm circumference of 13ins (32cm) or more.

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He told the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich: “Obesity is an increasing concern due to health implications for patients.”

The RS7 Intelli IT, by Japanese electronics firm Omron, is set to go on sale in the UK this year for £90.

Lucia Prada, of Omron, said: “Accurate readings with traditional devices can be a real challenge for obese patients.”

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