The mortality rate of high blood pressure has been increasing. High blood pressure is a deadly health condition, and many are scared of it. So, it is essential to monitor the blood pressure.ย Monitoring blood pressure is easy now with the advancement of technology, bringing different kinds of blood pressure monitors into the market.
A sphygmomanometer is a blood pressure monitor used to measure blood pressure. The blood pressure has an inflatable cuff to collapse and release the artery under the cuff in a steady manner and a mercury or aneroid manometer to measure the pressure.
Choose a home blood pressure monitor
At-home blood pressure monitors let you check it often. It gives your doctor a better idea of the true blood pressure. The best way to know if you have this high blood pressure is by measuring it many times a day for several months. Are you planning to have a blood pressure monitoring device available at home?
There are blood pressure monitors at home you can choose from. Many of them cost less than $100. Prescription is not needed to buy one. You can choose a model to wear on the arm or wrist during the day.
But, not all are accurate. So, it is essential to bring the blood pressure monitor to a doctor before you start using it. A home monitor allows you to measure and track the blood pressure over time. There are differences in how to use them and their accuracy.
There are three types of blood pressure monitoring devices, namely:
- mercury column
- aneroid
- digital
How does a blood pressure monitor work?
Arm blood pressure monitor. There are ways to check blood pressure using an arm monitor:
- By hand. After wrapping the blood pressure cuff around the arm, inflate it using a small hand pump. Using a stethoscope on the upper arm, you will listen to the pulse and blood flow.
- By machine. The cuff automatically fills with air. You will feel it tightened around an arm as it fills.
After the blood pressure cuff is filled up, you will let the air out slowly. Remember that the pressure when you hear the first pulse is your systolic pressure. When you let out air, the sound of the pulse fades. When it is completely gone, you will remember another pressure reading, it is the diastolic pressure. The normal blood pressure is 120/80 less, while the high blood pressure is 130/80 or higher.
