Which blood pressure monitor to choose – shoulder or wrist? Types, functions and prices of blood pressure monitors [EXPLAIN]

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A blood pressure monitor is a very useful piece of equipment for every first aid kit. It will be especially useful for people suffering from arterial pressure disorders. However, it is worth having a blood pressure monitor, even if the blood pressure has not caused us problems so far. Which type of blood pressure monitor is best to choose? Who will need a wrist blood pressure monitor, and who will need an upper arm blood pressure monitor? We check how they differ from each other.

A pressure gauge is a hydrostatic device whose main purpose is to measure pressure pressure on solids. Initially, to measure blood pressure, you had to open an arterial vessel from which blood flowed into a measuring cup.

The first blood pressure monitor to check blood pressure was designed by the Italian pediatrician Scipion Riva-Rocci in 1896. His method involved measuring the pressure under the cuff, from which air was gradually deflated. This method was modified by the Mikołaj Korotkov – thanks to him, auscultation began to be used to measure the heart rate.

  1. What does an elevated or a slow heart rate indicate?

Now, when a doctor places a cuff on a patient’s arm, he inflates the patient and deflates it while listening to the sound of waves known as Korotkov waves.

Regardless of whether we have stabilized pressure or frequent pressure fluctuations / jumps, it is worth monitoring it and therefore buying a blood pressure monitor. The main indication for increased blood pressure control is keeping it around the values ​​of 140/90 mm Hg or 90/60 mmHg. High or low blood pressure can be an indicator of illness and may remain abnormal for the rest of your life.

Are you looking for a blood pressure monitor? Check the offer of blood pressure monitors available on Medonet Market.

If you have problems with blood pressure, it is a good idea to use the blood pressure monitor every morning before getting out of bed. Blood pressure fluctuations most often occur at night, and the morning measurement retains the values ​​for the night hours. It is also worth measuring blood pressure when you suffer from persistent headaches or dizziness, as well as tinnitus.

Measurements should not be taken several times a day or in situations of significant nervousness or stress – it is obvious that in this case the pressure will be unnaturally high, and such a value will not contribute to a possible diagnosis. Patients can choose from two types of blood pressure monitors – manual sphygmomanometers and electronic sphygmomanometers.

There is no need to prepare yourself for the blood pressure measurement with the use of a blood pressure monitor. As already mentioned, the self-examination is best done in the morning, which, however, is not a rule.

In addition, be aware of external factors that may falsify the results. In addition to stress, the following are also listed:

  1. overeating,
  2. drinking coffee,
  3. drinking alcohol,
  4. smoking tobacco products,
  5. overload caused by excessive physical effort,
  6. low-grade fever or fever.

With these factors in mind, it makes sense to measure your blood pressure with a blood pressure monitor after at least 15 minutes of rest. Measurements can always be taken at the same time.

  1. Time to relax, i.e. a shiatsu massage

Measuring pressure with a pressure gauge depends on the type of device you choose. Shoulder models require correct pressure measurement technique. Remember to put the cuff on the arm so that its lower part is no more than 2-3 cm from the elbow. The cuff should not be too tight, it should allow two fingers to easily put under it. The arm on which the blood pressure monitor is placed must be level with the heart.

When deciding on a wrist blood pressure monitor, remember that the hand during the measurement should always be pointing upwards, and the cuff of the blood pressure monitor should be approx. 1,5 cm away from the hand.

Three values ​​can be read on the display of the blood pressure monitor: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse (pulse). The adopted standards are as follows:

  1. systolic arterial pressure – 120-139 mm Hg,
  2. diastolic blood pressure – 80-89 mm Hg,
  3. heart rate (pulse) – 60-80 heartbeats per minute.

At values ​​above 140 mm Hg of systolic arterial pressure and 90 mm Hg of diastolic arterial pressure, arterial hypertension is diagnosed. If we notice such a high measurement, which lasts for at least a few days, we should immediately consult a doctor – he may order further tests.

  1. Find out about the causes of primary arterial hypertension

Blood pressure monitor and validation

Validating a blood pressure monitor is actually checking that a device is fit for use during clinical trials. Independent test organizations are ESH (European Society of Hypertension) and BSH (British Society of Hypertension).

The work of the selected model is compared to a standard, i.e. a mercury sphygmomanometer considered to be the most accurate.

Worth knowing

If the measurement obtained from the tested equipment is close to the result of the exemplary device, it gets the designation A.

There are three processes in measuring pressure:

  1. Inflation – inflates the cuff;
  2. Occlusion – pressure of the cuff on the arterial vessel;
  3. Deflation – deflates the cuff.

Due to the aforementioned processes, the cuff material slowly deteriorates. For this reason, a calibration may be needed to analyze the differences between the measurement from the device under test and the measurement from the reference device (mercury pressure gauge).

If we want to be sure that the equipment we buy is working properly, we should have it periodically (1-2 years) returned to a service that calibrates blood pressure monitors.

Although manual blood pressure monitors are still used in healthcare facilities, they are now difficult to buy. They are more complicated to use than electronic models. To measure blood pressure, you need to put a special cuff on your arm, inflate it and use medical headphones to listen for tones over the brachial artery.

However, there are individual patient models on the market that can be operated with one hand. These include sphygmomanometers with a stethoscope. They work best for people who have arrhythmias. The manual sphygmomanometers include mercury sphygmomanometers and spring (dial) sphygmomanometers.

Manual mercury sphygmomanometers use mercury to determine the pressure measurement, which balances the pressure inside the cuff of the person undergoing the measurement. Manual mercury sphygmomanometers show very high measurement accuracy, do not require periodic calibration, but are very large and heavy, and contain toxic mercury.

Manual spring (dial) sphygmomanometers are a bit easier to use, unfortunately also less accurate, and also require systematic calibration.

Electronic sphygmomanometers, also known as digital sphygmomanometers, are much easier to use. There is no need to use medical headphones to measure the pressure, and the reading of the pressure value is displayed on the screen. Unfortunately, they are accused of inaccurate readings. There are two types of electronic blood pressure monitors: shoulder and wrist, which is related to the location of the cuff.

Using an electronic wrist blood pressure monitor, place the cuff over your wrist. This type of blood pressure monitor gives the most distorted results, which is related to circulatory disorders in the limbs.

A more accurate pressure measurement is possible thanks to an electronic arm blood pressure monitor. Some manufacturers of blood pressure monitors offer the ability to record multiple test results, which is a good option for people who have regular blood pressure monitoring.

Electronic sphygmomanometers can also be divided due to the participation of the patient himself in the study. Semi-automatic blood pressure monitors require proper cuff placement and inflation. They are not suitable for self-pressure measurements. A better solution are fully automatic blood pressure monitors, which only require the cuff to be applied, and it inflates itself after pressing the appropriate button.

If we care about the comfort of use, we can choose a wrist blood pressure monitor. In the ranking of pressure measuring devices, however, upper arm sphygmomanometers rank higher due to a more accurate reading of the data, especially in the case of circulatory disorders in the limbs.

We recommend a special SANITY automatic blood pressure monitor for children.

The type of blood pressure monitor and the price

Hi-end manual electronic blood pressure monitors enjoy the best opinion, but their price is high, as they cost around 700 zlotys. Electronic blood pressure monitors with an arm cuff are a cheaper option, which can be purchased for less than PLN 100.

If you need an easy-to-use blood pressure monitor, buy the BRAUN iCheck®7 7 BPW4500 Bluetooth Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor, which can be connected to a special app to keep track of your health.

The editorial board recommends:

  1. Blood pressure – normal, low, high
  2. How to raise the pressure? Several proven ways
  3. How do I measure my blood pressure? Check that you are not making any mistakes

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