Wrist blood pressure monitor – operation, functions, advantages, accuracy. Which wrist blood pressure monitor should I choose?

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Blood pressure readings change throughout the day depending on our level of activity. If our blood pressure is consistently high, the risk may increase with heart disease, stroke or heart attack. Whether or not you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (also known as hypertension), measuring your blood pressure frequently and tracking the results can alert you to changes that may require medical attention. In such cases, a wrist blood pressure monitor may come in handy.

Why should you check your blood pressure?

Our blood pressure is an important medical measure as high blood pressure can lead to life-threatening conditions. If our blood pressure is too high it can increase our risk of heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure and stroke.

If the pressure is too low, it can cause dizziness and light-headedness, fainting, blurred vision, tiredness and confusion. Experts say that blood pressure abnormalities can be asymptomatic, which is why blood pressure is called the “silent killer”. One way to check if your blood pressure is normal is to use a wrist blood pressure monitor.

See also: Heart failure is an epidemic of the XNUMXst century

What are wrist blood pressure monitors and how do they work?

Wrist sphygmomanometers are devices that people use to measure blood pressure at home. They are small and come with a large screen and some can even store a person’s previous readings.

Wrist sphygmomanometers measure two types of pressure: systolic pressure i diastolic.

Systolic pressure is the highest number in a blood pressure reading. It refers to the pressure caused by the heartbeat that forces blood to flow through the arteries. Diastolic pressure is the lowest reading of a person’s blood pressure and measures the pressure caused by blood flow between heartbeats.

The blood pressure measuring device has a cuff that the person wraps around the arm. This cuff inflates and stops blood flow through the arteries during reading. The cuff then begins to deflate, allowing for systolic pressure, allowing blood to continue flowing through the arteries.

The blood pressure monitor detects the vibrations generated by this pressure. When these vibrations stop, the blood pressure monitor measures the person’s diastolic pressure. Wrist blood pressure monitors may benefit people with arthritis as they may not be able to use devices with arm cuffs.

How to choose a wrist blood pressure monitor?

Before purchasing a wrist blood pressure monitor, there are a few important things to consider.

1. Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff Size: Devices with adjustable cuffs can be useful for a variety of wrist sizes. Make sure that the selected blood pressure monitor has a cuff that fits the circumference of our arm or wrist. (To be sure, let’s use a tailor’s tape measure.) Using the wrong cuff size may result in inaccurate readings.
2. Wrist blood pressure monitor display: Older people and those with visual impairments may want to choose a wrist blood pressure monitor with a large display and backlight. They can also be useful when a person wants to take a measurement at night.
3. Font and Instructions for the Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor: Large font screen displays and manuals allow users to easily use and configure the wrist blood pressure monitor.
4. Wrist blood pressure monitor features: Some brands allow customers to sync their wrist blood pressure monitor with their smartphone. These blood pressure monitors can be beneficial if a person wants to share their readings with a doctor or family member.
5. Wrist blood pressure monitor cost: The prices of wrist blood pressure monitors range from 50 to 600 PLN.
6. Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Battery: Longer battery life means we don’t have to keep remembering to charge it when we’re done using the blood pressure monitor. Some patients prefer rechargeable batteries while others prefer a battery that needs to be completely replaced.

Now you can buy OMRON wrist blood pressure monitor with elastic cuff and clear display at a promotional price on medonetmarket.

See also: Automatic or traditional? Which blood pressure monitor should you choose?

How to use a wrist blood pressure monitor?

The first and most important thing to accurately measure your blood pressure at home is the right technique. Whether you choose a wrist blood pressure monitor or a shoulder blood pressure monitor, how you monitor your blood pressure is just as important as the blood pressure monitor you use.

To measure your blood pressure with a blood pressure monitor, there are a few rules.

1. Be consistent – this means taking your blood pressure at the same time of day and, if possible, in the same place. If not, make sure you are sitting in a similar chair with your arm resting at the same height.
2. Stay still – for 30 minutes before exercise, avoid caffeine and smoking.
3. Maintain the correct position – the cuff should be at the same level as your heart. Whether you are measuring with a wrist blood pressure monitor or an upper arm blood pressure monitor, make sure you are seated comfortably with your arm supported so that you can hold the cuff at the correct height for an accurate reading. Do not move or talk while reading.
4. Make sure you are using a fitted cuff – make sure you are using the correct size cuff. Compare the size given by the manufacturer with the measurements on the arm and wrist – too small or too large a cuff can affect the readings!
5. Keep the room temperature at an appropriate level – excessively high or low ambient temperatures can affect blood pressure readings, so keep the room temperature around 20 ° C (68 ° F) when checking blood pressure.

As with any medical decision, we should speak to a doctor. It can help us make sure the home readings are as accurate as possible. A face-to-face comparison of a wrist blood pressure monitor with office equipment can help identify the margin of error and improve home blood pressure readings. Which, in turn, can translate into our health!

As blood pressure changes throughout the day, it is best to check your blood pressure several times a day. According to many doctors, the best time to measure your blood pressure is usually when you wake up and before you eat breakfast. It is also recommended to use the blood pressure monitor again in the evening – between lunch and going to bed – when you feel relaxed.

See also: How do I measure my blood pressure? Check that you are not making any mistakes

Wrist blood pressure monitor – how to read blood pressure?

When reading your blood pressure result, there are two numbers that measure two different aspects of your blood pressure: systolic and diastolic. Systolic, the highest number, is the maximum pressure your heart exerts to beat, and diastolic, the bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries between beats.

Our blood pressure reading will appear as one digit at the top (systolic number), a line, and then one digit below the line (diastolic number). Acceptable readings will vary from person to person, but a healthy blood pressure level is generally considered to be 120/80 mm Hg or less.

However, before using any home blood pressure monitor, it is recommended that you speak to your GP about readings and what to do if you receive these readings.

Even so, some readings should be considered warning signs. If our blood pressure is over 180 systolic and in the range 110-120 diastolic, it is an emergency that needs to be quickly resolved and action taken. If we get a reading in this range, see your doctor immediately.

Wrist blood pressure monitor – advantages and disadvantages

As with most things in life, wrist blood pressure monitors have their pros and cons.

Disadvantages:

While they are capable of being equally accurate, due to the need for appropriate technique, the margin of error for wrist sphygmomanometers is greater than that of their arm counterparts.

Advantages:

Now for the good news. Wrist blood pressure monitors, which we might be interested in because of their excellent portability, are getting smarter and easier to use. Some are even equipped with technology and applications to make sure we are using the right technique to get the best reading. In addition, wrist blood pressure monitors are compact, lightweight and portable. They are usually more convenient than upper arm blood pressure monitors.

Wrist blood pressure monitor – is it accurate?

Many studies and medical experts suggest that wrist blood pressure monitors are not accurate. In fact, the American Heart Association says wrist and finger blood pressure monitors are not recommended because they give less reliable readings.

In a 2020 hypertension study, researchers from seven universities and the World Hypertension League looked at more than 970 home blood pressure monitors sold by nearly 60 online retailers. It found that 95% had not been verified for accuracy. Legalized blood pressure monitors have been found to give “accurate and reliable readings compared to clinical standards,” says Dr. Andrew Feda, geriatrician at One Medical in New York. The legalization process usually involves comparing the blood pressure monitor reading with those obtained by the traditional method used by the doctor in the office (often an inflatable cuff and a stethoscope).

The American Medical Association and the National Research Center for Opinion at the University of Chicago have developed a process to validate blood pressure devices for clinical accuracy. Of the 162 wristband-style devices, only 8% have been approved, and none of the 530 wristband-style wear devices have been approved.

According to specialists, wrist blood pressure monitors are unfortunately notoriously inaccurate and are usually not recommended unless the patient is unable to use the blood pressure cuff. In addition, if the patient wishes to use wrist sphygmomanometers, he should bring it to the doctor’s office to compare it with a professional machine to assess its accuracy.

The most common causes of inaccurate readings on a wrist blood pressure monitor include:

1. Irregular heartbeat: These blood pressure monitors are not as accurate for people with an irregular heartbeat because they are designed to pick up a regular pattern and irregular patterns can easily trick them. If we have an irregular heart rhythm, we should better put the cuff on the arm. The blood vessels in the wrist are narrower and the irregular rhythm accentuates the smaller channel, making it difficult to obtain an accurate reading.
2. Wrist Anatomy: Wrist blood pressure monitors are less accurate than shoulder cuffs, simply because of the structure of the wrists. The arteries in the wrist are narrower and are not as deep under the skin as the arteries in the arm.
3. Human error: Wrist blood pressure monitors are picky. The monitor must be exactly in the right position and, as experts note, any movement can distort the reading.

Overall, while wrist blood pressure monitors are convenient, they are no substitute for seeing your doctor. The most accurate reading is done in the doctor’s office with a traditional arm cuff and a stethoscope around the elbow.

Check offers on wrist blood pressure monitors at lower prices.

See also: Shoulder or wrist blood pressure monitor – which will work better?