Types of tonometers for measuring pressure

A device for measuring blood pressure (mechanical or automatic blood pressure monitor) is an indispensable thing in every home. Even healthy people in some situations have to use it, not to mention hypertensive or hypotensive patients. It is rather difficult for an unenlightened person to understand the abundance of blood pressure monitors on the shelves of pharmacies and choose the right model. They are mechanical, automatic or semi-automatic, mounted on the wrist or shoulder. To make the right purchase, you need to decide how often it will be used, and who plans to measure pressure (depending on age, weight, number of diseases, the recommended device model is different).

Varieties of tonometers

There are three main types that differ in the principle of operation:

1. Mechanical. Components: cuff, pear, stethoscope and pressure gauge, where the test results are displayed. It is easy to use, but initially you need to practice. In order to measure the pressure, the cuff is put on the shoulder and air is pumped with a pear with a free hand. At the same time, the vessels are compressed, and with the help of a stethoscope, the pulse is easily heard. Mechanical blood pressure monitors are the most popular and affordable.
2. Auto. The most expensive, convenient and accurate type of device. No effort is required from the patient, it is enough to put the cuff on the shoulder and press the power button. He himself "pumps" the right amount of air and displays the measurement results on the screen. The automatic tonometer works from a network or batteries. The disadvantages include failures in electronics, which are especially common in cheap models.
3. Semi-automatic. Not inferior in accuracy to automatic, but the price is much lower. It also has a pear, which manually inflates air, and then the device itself deflates it and measures the pressure. The results are shown on the screen.

Blood pressure monitors can be worn on the wrist or shoulder.

Wrist models fit:

• overweight people (when it is difficult to use the cuff on the shoulder);
• those who use the device often and always carry it with them.

Not suitable for patients with atherosclerosis, as the vessels on the wrist can be damaged, and the readings will be unreliable. An important feature is that when measuring pressure, the hand with the tonometer must be held at the level of the heart. Some models have built-in sensors that indicate the correct position of the wrist with the device.

Shoulder blood pressure monitors are among the most accurate, many models are equipped with additional functions (memorizing the result or counting the pulse).

They are easy to use, but more expensive and bulky, making it difficult to transport.

Which to choose

It will be difficult for an elderly grandmother to learn how to measure pressure with a mechanical device, pump air on her own and catch the sounds of a heartbeat in a stethoscope. In this case, it is better to stay on the electronic version. For an athlete or a person with an active lifestyle, carpal tonometers are perfect. They are compact and easy to use. When you often need to measure pressure in a noisy place, semi-automatic or automatic devices will do better.

There are models that are designed specifically for pregnant women. They take into account the peculiarities of pressure in a woman during the bearing of a baby and help to prevent the complication of toxicosis in time.

For people with a weak pulse, it is better to choose a mechanical sphygmomanometer, as electronic options are highly sensitive and may show inaccurate results. In addition, there are devices with a built-in arrhythmia indicator. They are best chosen for those who suffer from violations of the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle.

Models are developed taking into account the circumference of the shoulder. There are children's cuffs or special ones for large volumes.

Of all the varieties of manufacturing firms, there are three that occupy a leading position:

1. Japanese firm AND. Produces blood pressure monitors for 40 years.
2. Omron (Japanese-German firm).
3. Microlife (Switzerland).

If you need to choose a budget option for home use, mechanical models are better suited. For example, a Microlife mechanical tonometer costs about 1,000 rubles. An improved model of Microlife "BP AG1-40" with a large pressure gauge connected to a pear, an average of 2 thousand rubles. A good automatic device on the wrist AND "UB-201" will cost 2.3 thousand rubles. Semi-automatic tonometer Omron M1 Compact - 1770 rubles.

How to measure blood pressure with a mechanical sphygmomanometer

For the results to be reliable, follow some rules when measuring pressure:

• Before the procedure, do not drink alcohol, do not smoke or drink coffee. Nervous tension, exercise and a relaxing massage or bath also affect the readings of the blood pressure monitor. It is better to measure the pressure 2 hours before a meal in a calm environment.
• In a sitting position, put your hand on the table, legs straight. We release the limb from clothing and put on the cuff of the tonometer 2-3 cm above the elbow (should be at the level of the heart), fixing it with Velcro. If it does not fit, the measurement results will be unreliable.
• We put the head of the stethoscope on the inside of the elbow so that it does not touch the cuff.
• Using a pear, we inflate air to a level of 200–220 mm Hg. Art.
• Then slowly release the air, following the arrow on the pressure gauge. We detect the value at the appearance of the first noise and upon their completion. Systolic pressure will display the first digit, and the second - diastolic.

• For the accuracy of the result, the measurement must be repeated 2 more times, with an interval of 3-5 minutes. The average value will indicate the actual blood pressure. The accuracy of the instrument is affected by electromagnetic fields. Keep your mobile phone away during the procedure.

You can measure the pressure yourself or ask for help from loved ones. For independent use, it is better to choose a model with a built-in stethoscope head and a connected pear with a pressure gauge. The first few measurements may seem quite difficult, but then they will be fast and accurate.

How to use the automatic device

Measuring with an automatic device is different in that you do not need to make efforts to pump air and use a stethoscope. It is enough to fasten the cuff and press the start button. The device shows the finished result on the display. In addition to systolic and diastolic pressure, the number of heartbeats (pulse) is automatically calculated.

The use of a blood pressure monitor on the wrist has its own characteristics. First of all, you need to free your hand from clothes, watches, jewelry. Fasten the cuff at a distance of 1-2 cm from the palm of the hand with the display facing up. Then put your hand on the opposite shoulder, palm down, so that the wrist is as close to the heart as possible. We press the power button and support it with our free hand by the elbow.

If for some reason you had to choose a semi-automatic tonometer, then learning how to measure pressure with it is not difficult. To do this, fasten the cuff above the elbow and pump air with a pear to the required level. After the device itself lowers it and fixes the pressure readings.

Regardless of whether it is a mechanical or automatic device, with a cuff on the shoulder or wrist, it must be chosen consciously. After all, the accuracy of measurement depends on the health, and sometimes the life of a person. It is better to purchase in stores or pharmacies where original products are presented and they give a guarantee for use. So you can avoid fake or low-quality goods.