Posted on Monday, 6th July 2009 by admin
Why should I measure my blood pressure at home and keep a record of it?
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.
How do I know if my monitoring device is accurate or if I am using it correctly?
Once you buy your monitor, take it to your doctor’s office to be checked for 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.
Ask your doctor or nurse to teach you how to use your blood pressure monitor correctly. Proper use of it will help you and your doctor achieve good results in controlling your blood pressure.
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- Understanding the medical terms
- Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of the artery.
- Hypertension means high blood pressure.
- Hypotension means low blood pressure.
- Brachial artery is a blood vessel that goes from your shoulder to just below your elbow. You measure the pressure in this artery.
- Systolic pressure is the highest pressure in an artery when your heart is pumping blood to your body.
- Diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure in an artery when your heart is at rest.
- Blood pressure measurement is made up of both the systolic and the diastolic pressure. It is normally written like this: 120/80, with the systolic number first.
What are the pros and cons of the digital monitor?
Because the digital monitor is automatic, it is the most popular blood-pressure measuring device. The blood pressure measurement is easy to read, because the numbers are shown on a screen. Some electronic monitors have a paper printout that gives you a record of the blood pressure reading.
The digital monitor is easier to use than the aneroid unit. It has a gauge and stethoscope that are one unit, and the numbers are easy to read. It also has an error indicator, and deflation is automatic. Inflation of the cuff is either automatic or manual, depending on the model. This blood pressure monitoring device is good for hearing-impaired patients, since there is no need to listen to heart sounds through the stethoscope.
A disadvantage of the digital monitor is that the accuracy is changed by body movements or an irregular heart rate. In addition, the monitor requires batteries. Some models are designed for use with the left arm only. This may make them hard for some patients to use. Finally, some digital monitors are expensive. They range in price from about $30 to over $100.
Types of Machines
For ease of use machines can be fully automatic and measure blood pressure correctly on the upper arm at heart level. The readings are given on a digital display and can be stored in the monitor’s memory or printed out. There are many different types of machines available however the standards of accuracy may vary. The information on these pages will hopefully help you make an informed decision on your purchase - which machines are best, where to buy them from trusted online stores and how to use the blood pressure monitor correctly.
Sometimes your blood pressure is raised when taken in a clinical or medical environment, such as your doctor’s surgery. This is called white coat hypertension and can be caused by feeling anxious, or by being in a busy or noisy environment. Blood pressure readings taken at home are often lower than those taken at a doctor’s surgery, whether a doctor or a nurse takes them. Readings taken away from the clinic are now seen to give a more accurate picture of your normal blood pressure.
Research published in the British Medical Journal revealed that people who monitor their blood pressure at home have better blood pressure control. The paper, “Blood pressure control by home monitoring..” shows clear evidence that patient involvement in the monitoring of blood pressure brings better results than those monitored solely at their surgery or clinic.
Recommended Blood Pressure Monitors
Staff taking general enquiries at the Blood Pressure Association became aware that increasingly people are measuring their own blood pressure at home, and are keen to know what machines are recommended. There is a wide range of machines available to the public. If you are considering buying a blood pressure monitor it is important that you make an informed purchase, it is worth investigating the quality, types and check prices before you buy a machine for home use.
Details of blood pressure monitors suitable for home use, compiled by the British Hypertension Society (BHS) are available on their Web site you may find it a useful guide when you buy a blood pressure monitor. All of the monitors on this list are digital upper arm monitors and have been through independent testing shown in research to be accurate and are currently available.
Click To access the some Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Devices for Home use
I check Web sites regularly for availability and best price on accurate machines (listed by the British Hypertension Society) and happily provide links to these sites which stock a wide range of Omron and A + D Instruments recommended machines. A leading online supplier of blood pressure monitors is Medisave who currently offer a price match guarantee on BHS validated machines.
Where can I Buy a Validated Blood Pressure Monitor?
A wide range of machines are available from The First Aid Warehouse and Medisave and often include free gifts and promotions (free pedometer with Omron Machine at First Aid Warehouse or First Aid Kit with Monitors bought from Medisave.
Omron, Microlife and A+D Instruments: Machines approved by the British Hypertension Society. See one wrist blood pressure monitor of entire list of BHS approved blood pressure monitors here or choose from the selected machines below.
The First Aid Warehouse are online UK distributors of medical equipment to both medical professionals and individual home users. They stock a wide range of blood pressure monitors including automatic digital machines validated for accuracy by the British Hypertension Society BHS. They consistently score high on excellent value for money and high quality service. They stock blood pressure machines that the British Hypertension Society recommend - Microlife, Omron and A and D Instruments - accurate monitors for home use and regularly include promotions with their sales. Visit the First Aid Warehouse blood pressure monitor department
How do I use an aneroid monitor?
- Put the stethoscope ear pieces into your ears, with the ear pieces facing forward.
- Place the stethoscope disk on the inner side of the crease of your elbow.
- Rapidly inflate the cuff by squeezing the rubber bulb to 30 to 40 points higher than your last systolic reading. Inflate the cuff rapidly, not just a little at a time. Inflating the cuff too slowly will cause a false reading.
- Slightly loosen the valve and slowly let some air out of the cuff. Deflate the cuff by 2 to 3 millimeters per second. If you loosen the valve too much, you won’t be able to determine your blood pressure.
- As you let the air out of the cuff, you will begin to hear your heartbeat. Listen carefully for the first sound. Check the blood pressure reading by looking at the pointer on the dial. This number will be your systolic pressure.
- Continue to deflate the cuff. Listen to your heartbeat. You will hear your heartbeat stop at some point. Check the reading on the dial. This number is your diastolic pressure.
- Write down your blood pressure, putting the systolic pressure before the diastolic pressure (for example, 120/80).
- If you want to repeat the measurement, wait 2 to 3 minutes before reinflating the cuff.
How do I use a digital monitor?
- Put the cuff around the arm. Turn the power on, and start the machine.
- The cuff will inflate by itself with a push of a button on the automatic models. On the semiautomatic models, the cuff is inflated by squeezing the rubber bulb. After the cuff is inflated, the automatic mechanism will slowly reduce the cuff pressure.
- Look at the display window to see your blood pressure reading. The machine will show your systolic and diastolic blood pressures on the screen. Write down your blood pressure, putting the systolic pressure before the diastolic pressure.
- Press the exhaust button to release all of the air from the cuff.
- If you want to repeat the measurement, wait 2 to 3 minutes before reinflating the cuff.
Tags: automatic Blood Pressure Monitor, Buy Blood Pressure Monitor, Digital Blood Pressure Monitor, Electronic Blood Pressure Monitor, omron Blood Pressure Monitor, Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
Posted in consumer electronics | Comments (26)
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August 5th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Thanks for posting this information. I was especially interested in the fact that home based blood pressure monitors should be checked once per year. I suspect this is a recommendation that is commonly overlooked.
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