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Which blood pressure monitor should you choose? Wrist or shoulder? Electric or mechanical? Check what types of blood pressure monitors are there, how they differ, which one is the most accurate and which one is best to choose.

Which blood pressure monitor to chooseandhow to correctly measure blood pressure ? Make a habit of taking your blood pressure daily, preferably in the morning, while sitting down, before getting out of bed.

The worst problems with blood pressure happen at night, so the morning measurement corresponds to what happened then. They also always need to be checked in the event of malaise: headache or tinnitus. There is no point in doing this several times a day without any particular need.

The pressure jump or drop by several tens of millimeters of mercury and the repeated pressure above 140/90 mm Hg should be disturbing. Then it is necessary to consult a doctor who, if necessary, will correct the treatment. It is not worth panicking when the pressure jumps due to nervousness or fatigue. When you cool down, it'll be back to normal.

Blood pressure monitor - which equipment should you choose? Electrical pressure gauges

To take a blood pressure measurement, it is necessary to inflate the cuff manually and listen to the tones above the brachial artery, below the applied cuff, using medical headphones. There are blood pressure monitors here

  • mercury - they use mercury as an element to balance the pressure in the cuff on the subject's arm. By reading the height of the mercury on the scale, you can measure your blood pressure with high accuracy. They do not require periodic calibration. They are very accurate, but quite difficult to handle. Their disadvantage is their large size, weight and the fact that they contain toxic mercury.
  • spring (clockwise) - they are easier to use, but a bit less accurate. In addition, they require periodic calibration, preferably every 1-2 years, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The American Heart Association recommends calibration every 6 months. in

They are no longer available for purchase, but are still used in he althcare facilities.

Blood pressure monitor - what equipment should you choose? Electronic blood pressure monitors

Electric blood pressure monitors measure pressure on your wrist. They are easier to use, do not require the use of medical headphones, and the pressure value is shown ondisplay. Although they are very handy, they are not recommended because they do not measure the pressure very accurately. The camera can be selected to hold a number of recordings in memory, with either semi-automatic or fully automatic operation. Among the electric sphygmomanometers, the following are distinguished:

Due to where the cuff is placed:

  • wrist - the cuff is placed on the wrist. Measurement with this type of blood pressure monitor is not very accurate due to the possibility of disturbances in the circulation of the limbs
  • shoulder cuffs - the cuffs are put on 2-3 cm above the elbow bend. The measurement is much more accurate than wrist

Overview of the most popular wrist and upper arm blood pressure monitors

Due to the patient's participation in the pressure test:

  • semi-automatic - the patient must properly wrap the cuff and inflate it by himself. It is not recommended for self-measurement
  • automatic - the measurement is performed automatically, i.e. it is enough for the patient to press the button on the blood pressure monitor and the cuff will be inflated by the device itself

Blood pressure monitor - what equipment should you choose? Hi-End manual blood pressure monitors

The group of electronic sphygmomanometers also includes medical manual sphygmomanometers of the Hi-End class. These are the highest class devices that use Korotkov's auscultatory method. The pressure test is carried out in the same way as with manual devices, with the difference that the measurement of the air pressure value in the cuff is performed by an electronic system, which additionally ensures automatic calibration and deflation rate control.

Blood pressure monitor - the optimal solution

Hi-End manual electronic blood pressure monitors have the most advantages, but their disadvantage is the price (about PLN 700). If we cannot afford such a blood pressure monitor, an electronic device with an arm cuff is the best solution. The cuff should be placed over the right or left arm in such a way that its lower edge is about 2-3 cm above the elbow bend. 2 fingers should easily fit under the wristband. The arm on which the measurement is performed must be level with the heart. If, on the other hand, you choose a wrist blood pressure monitor, always wear it with the palm facing upwards. The cuff of the wrist blood pressure monitor should be approximately 1.5 cm from your hand.

Blood pressure monitor - when you really need it

The pressure should be monitored if it remains at the level of 140/90 mmHg. Because when it becomes permanent,will turn into a dangerous disease. It sometimes happens that a patient has normal blood pressure values ​​without treatment - this may be the case for several years. However, once the changes in the walls of the blood vessels become permanent, the blood pressure will remain permanently elevated.

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