Blood Pressure Monitor - A Guide to Choosing Blood Pressure Monitors By Gordon Cameron

Trying to choose a blood pressure monitor for use at home can seem bewildering. There is a wide range of blood pressure monitor machines available - all of them claiming to have advantages over each other. So - how do you choose a blood pressure monitor?

Do you need to monitor blood pressure at home?

This is really the first question that you need to ask yourself. Do you really need to check your blood pressure at home on a regular basis or is it enough to have your doctor check it every once in a while? The evidence is now pretty convincing that if your doctor checks your blood pressure then your blood pressure reading is likely to be quite a bit higher than if you check it yourself at home. This rise in blood pressure when faced with a doctor is sometimes called white coat hypertension - hypertension is just another name for high blood pressure.

Some doctors or hospitals make use of sophisticated machines which can record a whole series of blood pressure readings in a 24 hour period - called twenty four hour ambulatory monitoring. Recording blood pressure this way gives a very clear picture of what your true blood pressure is doing but it may not always be required unless your blood pressure is proving very hard to control.

In general - provided you can afford to buy the blood pressure monitor, and providing you don't get too obsessive about small variations in the readings, then having a home blood pressure monitor is a good idea. You can quickly learn to build up a blood pressure chart of your own readings from the blood pressure machine and this may help you and your doctor plan your treatment more effectively.

Many people who purchase a home digital blood pressure monitor feel that it gives them a greater sense of involvement in their own healthcare. Others simply get panicky when the readings show a normal and natural variation from day to day. If you buy a blood pressure monitor then try to get into the habit of checking your blood pressure reading at or around the same time every day - this will tend to improve the reliability of the results.

What kind of blood pressure monitor should you buy?

In general my advice would be to buy the best that you can afford. It's your long-term health we're discussing and it's important to take that seriously. The blood pressure monitors that are now available to buy are for the most part quite accurate. The mid to high range digital blood pressure monitors are often used in hospital departments or by family doctors and have been carefully tested for accuracy and reliability. Some of the manual versions (the blood pressure cuff is inflated by hand) tend to lose their accuracy over time.

Make sure that the blood pressure cuff fits your arm

One of the key things when measuring blood pressure is to choose a cuff that fits comfortably all the way round your arm. If the cuff is too tight then the blood pressure monitor will return a reading that is higher than the true reading. At the press of a button on the automatic blood pressure monitor the blood pressure cuff will inflate to a certain level and then automatically deflates again. There is a sensor in the blood pressure cuff that automatically detects the rate of your heart and measures your blood pressure reading. The result will be displayed on a screen with the higher number showing your systolic blood pressure and the lower number showing your diastolic blood pressure.

Before checking your blood pressure you should have rested sitting down for at least five minutes.

Make sure that you line up the arrow on the cuff with the pulse at the crease in front of your elbow - ask your doctor to show you how to do this if you are not sure.

The blood pressure monitor machine will have a built in function to alert you if an error occurs with your reading.

Upper arm digital blood pressure monitor

These blood pressure monitor machines usually come out as being most accurate and most reliable in independent tests. The blood pressure cuff goes around the upper part of your arm with the arrow to the front over the artery pulse at the front of your elbow crease.

Wrist or finger digital blood pressure monitor

Most doctors think that these are less reliable than the upper arm version. The readings can be sensitive to movement or to changes in body temperature. Some of the more expensive wrist blood pressure monitor models are improving their accuracy but are still generally not quite as accurate as the upper arm models.

If you do decide to buy a digital blood pressure monitor then it is important to take it with you to your doctor's office once a year or so and compare the reading it gets with your doctors machine.

Also, one last tip:

Please don't forget to change the batteries from time to time! You might end up feeling rather foolish if you do.

About Author

Gordon Cameron MD is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has a special interest in blood pressure problems in general and in low blood pressure in particular.

Follow these links to his website for more information about choosing a blood pressure monitor, about treatment for high blood pressure and for comprehensive coverage about dealing with low blood pressure.

Dr Cameron is also an expert in the treatment of gout

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Cameron

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Blood Pressure Kit - Your Doctor at Home By Roberto Sedycias

Studies reveal that blood pressure is the major medical problem in the world. An abnormal stress on the circulatory system leads to blood pressure and other related diseases such as stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

Generally, high blood pressure has no specific symptom; the only way to know about it is to have some medical tests done. A regular check-up is essential to monitor your health and to prevent the conditions from worsening further. In standard blood pressure measuring system, doctors use an arm cuff which is pumped up and the result is displayed on the setting.

According to a survey published in `Journal of American Medical Association` measuring blood pressure at home shows a better overall result than that at the doctors` place. Invention of different kits has made the process easier for the patients who shy away from doctors. Well, a study conducted in 2004 and presented in European Society of Hypertension meeting disclosed that people having their blood pressure monitored at home show better overall result than those who have it done at their doctor`s office. In many case the inflated reading is due to the tension felt in the doctor`s clinic.

While buying your kit to measure blood pressure at home you should look for certain thing in the particular device. Heart monitoring device, remote monitoring equipment are the indispensable features of your home kit. Rest of the thing, that you need, depends upon the advice of your doctor.

However, there are different types of blood pressure monitors. The old fashioned monitors that use an arm cuff are the cheapest ones. But, it is not suitable for the person who wants to conduct a test on himself. It requires someone to assist in pumping the machine, and checking the flow of blood with a stethoscope to read the output. To sum it up, it is best for the doctors.

With everything going modern you can find modern blood pressure kit, the electronic measuring device that has got an built in sensor to monitor blood circulation and provides digital readouts. It has also got an LCD monitor to display result. The electronic kit has options for you to choose from whether you want a manual pump or electronic automatic pump. The test report by the American Academi of Family Phisician displays that the finger and wrist blood pressure devices are sensitive to position and body temperature and cannot give an accurate result every time.

While purchasing your home blood pressure kit take care of certain inevitable aspects of the device.

1. The cuff that you are taking should properly fit to your arm; otherwise, it may give you a wrong reading.

2. The monitor should properly display the readouts. Numbers should be clearly visible.

3. You should be able to hear your heartbeat through the stethoscope.

4. Though majority of people prefer to check their blood pressure at home, it is advisable to get their kit checked by the doctor at least once to ensure accurate result.

It is true that the use of home kit has increased remarkably. The blood pressure Agency is now working with British standards institute and Medical Devices Agency to check and test the home medical equipments to ensure their accuracy. At times, it may not be possible for you to visit the doctor to check it. But if you are keeping a kit handy with you, it will be beneficial for you as you can keep a watch on your health anywhere, any time.

About Author

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for PoloMercantil Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roberto_Sedycias Find More blood pressure blood pressure devices blood pressure kit

Blood Pressure Monitor - How Does a Blood Pressure Monitor Work? By Gordon Cameron

Blood pressure monitor devices prompt a lot of questions online because many people need guidance about how to choose and buy the one that will best suit their needs and their lifestyle.

Here's a common set of concerns and it's a fair bet that if you have a problem with hypertension, you'll share many of these questions too:

Bob Thomas asked:

"I have high blood pressure and get it checked by a nurse once a month. I do worry inbetween times that it is high and if it is being checked enough? I have read about blood pressure monitors for the home and was wondering if they are easy to use or if you need medical training to read the results.

I think it would give me peace of mind to know what my BP is like more often. Should i buy a blood pressure monitor?"

Well Bob - here are the main things to consider if you plan to invest in a simple device that quite literally could save your life.

Most available monitors are inexpensive and reliable but there are some basic tips to follow if you want your BP readings to be accurate.

• Before measuring your blood pressure you should be seated and relaxed. You should be sitting in a quiet room and rest for at least 5 minutes before you begin your measurements.
• Place your arm with the device at heart level while measuring, above heart rate gives a false high reading, below heart level gives a false low reading.
  For example, if you use a wrist device bend your arm and bring the device to your heart and rest it on your chest at heart level while measuring
• Do not talk while you are measuring your blood pressure.
• Always document your readings, with time and date so you can show the results to your doctor or nurse to discuss different readings.
• When you first use the monitor take a reading on both the left and right arm and then in future use whichever arm gives you the higher reading. Always use the same arm for readings.
• If you find that the difference between the readings on either arm is greater than 20mmHg systolic (top number) or 10mmHg diastolic (bottom number) talk to you doctor or nurse about your readings.

If you are still uncertain about the use of a blood pressure monitor you can and should ask the nurse that comes to measure your levels. She will be able to explain how to correctly use the monitor.

You need to remember that hypertension or high BP will usually cause no symptoms. Even if it does the symptoms are usually mild and nonspecific. This is what makes hypertension such a dangerous condition.

Cardiologists the world over now recommend that all of us who have hypertension should use a home BP monitor. Why not get yourself one today?

About Author

Dr Gordon Cameron is a physician in Edinburgh Scotland. He has a special interest in blood pressure problems

Doctor Cameron also runs AskDoctorCameron.com - a popular medical question and answer website.

You can ask any health related question and you'll receive a detailed helpful answer from Doctor Cameron and from other users of the site who are able to share their own experiences with you.

Check out Ask Doctor Cameron today and join a rapidly growing web community.

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Accuracy of Blood Pressure Monitors By Jennifer Bailey

There is no visible way one can understand changes in human blood pressure, and naturally, checking regularly is the only means to keep track of it. The blood pressure results can predict the risks for your body and health, thereby enabling your physician to suggest ideal food, work, and sleep schedules for you.

Different blood pressure monitors provide different readings. The most common blood pressure monitor uses a column of mercury to gauge the blood pressure with a hand pump attached to the arm of the patient. When you pump this, the blood pressure monitor tightens on your arm. Readings taken by this device are usually accurate. But a disadvantage with this type of mercury-based blood pressure monitor is that accidental spilling of mercury can cause various allergic reactions and illness.

Even though many types of blood pressure monitors are available on the market, mercury-based pressure gauges are more dependable and widely used. But in a technology-driven society where electronic gadgets are exceedingly popular, mercury pressure devices are fast replaced by aneroid and electronic blood pressure monitors. The cuff that is used to attach the device to the arm is important, too. A narrow cuff gives high blood pressure reading, while a broader cuff gives a lower reading. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury. It represents the force of blood exerted on blood vessel walls.

In order to ensure that these new devices provide accurate data, they should be calibrated and validated periodically. Calibration ensures that measurements start from zero on all occasions. It is important that you check the blood pressure monitor you use for accuracy.

About Author

Blood Pressure Monitors provides detailed information on Blood Pressure Monitors, Digital Blood Pressure Monitors, Reliability of Blood Pressure Monitors, Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors and more. Blood Pressure Monitors is affiliated with Low Blood Pressure.

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