Blood pressure monitors allow you to keep track of your own blood pressure, in the peace and quiet of your own home, without having to go to the doctor. This will put you in control of your own health, so that you can look for signs of your blood pressure changing, and then visit the doctor when you need.
Measuring your blood pressure at home and keeping a record of the measurements will show you and your doctor how much your blood pressure changes during the day. Your doctor can use the measurements to see how well your medicine is working to control your high blood pressure. Also, measuring your own blood pressure is a good way to take part in managing your health.
To measure your blood pressure at home, you can use either an aneroid monitor or a digital monitor. The aneroid monitor has a dial gauge that is read by looking at a pointer. The cuff is inflated by squeezing a rubber bulb. Digital monitors have either manual or automatic cuffs.
One advantage of the aneroid monitor is that it is portable, and its cuff has a built-in stethoscope. The aneroid monitor also has some disadvantages. First, it is a complicated device that can easily be damaged and become less accurate. This monitor may not be appropriate for hearing-impaired people, because of the need to listen to heart sounds through the stethoscope.
Because the digital monitor is automatic, the blood pressure measurement is easy to read, since the numbers are shown on a screen. Some electronic monitors have a paper printout that gives you a record of the blood pressure reading.
A disadvantage of the digital monitor is that body movements or an irregular heart rate changes the accuracy. You should have your monitor checked once a year. Proper care and storage are also necessary. Make sure the tubing is not twisted when the monitor is stored, and keep it away from heat. Periodically check the tubing for cracks and leaks.
And Blood Pressure Monitors
Self-monitoring blood pressure programs have been initiated to improve blood pressure control and clinical outcomes, and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. While many patients take and record their blood pressure at home, it is unknown whether they accurately report these readings to their primary care physicians.
There are several good, reliable makes of blood pressure monitors like Microlife, Omron, Braun and A&D monitors. The technology used in these monitors has increased in sophistication and accuracy over the last ten years, and they are now regularly used in doctor's offices instead of the older glass and mercury models.
Digital Filter Technology uses a sensor to detect and isolate only the essential pulse oscillation. It helps eliminate other noise factors, leading to a quick and reliable measurement capability.
Automatic blood pressure monitors operate with the push of a single button, and quickly and accurately measure blood pressure and pulse. Electronic circuitry provides personalized inflation and deflation. Completely automatic inflation and deflation is a fast, easy and gentle way to monitor blood pressure at home.
Motion artifact extraction technology is the latest generation of revolutionary non-invasive blood pressure monitor technology. It relies on non-invasive blood pressure measurement technology for its multi-parameter monitors. This is more likely to result in a successful measurement, even in situations where there is patient movement, or the device is used in a moving vehicle.
Some machines measure blood pressure from the wrist or finger. These are not recommended at the moment, as they do not give the same readings as in the upper arm where blood pressure is usually measured.
For increased reliability in measurements it is recommended that blood pressure measurements are taken at similar times every day, and never directly after physical exercise. Results indicate that the value of patient-directed treatment and monitoring programs depends on the reliability of the data collected.
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