A device for measuring pressure

A human blood pressure monitor is essential for monitoring blood pressure levels. With its help, you can notice deviations from the norm in time and prevent the development of complications.

The device is called a tonometer. It helps to measure blood pressure in time to know when to lower the pressure if it rises sharply. This avoids serious consequences for the body.

Types of devices for measuring blood pressure

Instruments for measuring pressure allow you to:

• Monitor blood pressure in a relaxed home environment. Many people are very nervous at the sight of a doctor, which can cause high blood pressure, which will affect the diagnosis.
• Monitor blood pressure levels after taking medications. This is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

You can buy a tonometer at a pharmacy. There are automatic, semi-automatic and mechanical devices that manufacturers offer at very affordable prices. You can choose the device to be worn on the shoulder, finger and wrist. Such a wide range of blood pressure monitors often confuses the buyer, because not everyone knows which device is better.

A device for measuring blood pressure usually consists of the following parts:

• Cuff with which the device is put on the arm.
• Devices for pumping air into the cuff.
• The pressure gauge measures how much pressure the air has in the cuff.
• A device for recording air pulsations.

The device with which you can control blood pressure was created a hundred years ago. At first, there was only a mechanical device, but gradually automatic and semi-automatic blood pressure monitors were created, which are currently used by most people. Meters do not require special skills to operate: you do not need to be a doctor to use them.

Everyone decides for himself which devices are better and more convenient. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages.

Mechanical blood pressure monitors

He is favored by the medical staff. But only a medical worker can correctly carry out the procedure for measuring blood pressure using this device, since it is necessary to listen to noises.

A person who is not trained in the use of this instrument may receive inaccurate information if he makes some mistake.

When measuring with a mechanical tonometer, a phonendoscope is used. This device is necessary for listening to heartbeats.

The measurement of blood pressure should be carried out as follows:

1. A phonendoscope is applied to the artery at the fold of the arm.
2. In order for the cuff to get enough air, it is necessary to vigorously squeeze the pear.
3. When there is enough air in the cuff, and the device reaches 180 mm Hg. Art., the valve on the pear must be loosened. This will allow air to slowly exit the cuff. It is very important that the air exit be slow, if this happens too quickly, then it will not work to know what pressure.

A second measurement is carried out three or four minutes after the last one.

Automatic blood pressure monitor

The most convenient option of all tonometers is called automatic or electronic. With it, you can easily carry out daily monitoring of blood pressure, even while at work or while traveling.

The automatic device is based on the oscillometric method for measuring blood pressure. This method works like this: if pressure fluctuations occur in the artery, then air fluctuations in the cuff occur because of them. These movements are registered by a special sensor and processed by a microprocessor.

Using an automatic blood pressure monitor should be done in a simple way:

1. Wear on your shoulder or wrist.
2. Press the start button and the cuff will be inflated.
3. Your blood pressure readings will be recorded.

The automatic blood pressure monitor is equipped with a special compressor to regulate the pressure in the cuff. This eliminates excess air pressure and gives a more accurate result when measuring blood pressure.

Among the positive qualities of the device are the following:

1. Noise resistant.
2. Blood pressure can be measured through clothing.
3. They give almost flawless results.

There are options that allow you to take measurements on the shoulder, wrist or finger.

Daily monitoring of blood pressure in hypertension is best done using shoulder tonometers. They give an accurate result, since the pressure measurement takes place on the brachial arteries.

Blood pressure monitors on the wrist are more suitable for monitoring stress during sports. It is better not to measure the pressure on the fingers at home, as the result is very inaccurate.

To pump air into the cuff, automatic blood pressure monitors were equipped with special electric motors. Therefore, a good battery charge is required for the device to work.

The disadvantage of such tonometers is that they are powered by electricity:

• some are equipped with a battery;
• others are batteries;
• sometimes a network adapter is needed.

Battery-powered devices are not very convenient, as the source of electricity often needs to be changed. Therefore, manufacturers recommend purchasing an adapter. Only an adapter can save you from the inconvenience of constantly changing batteries.

The adapter is the power source for the device, but it must match the device. Therefore, before purchasing an adapter for a tonometer, it is important to familiarize yourself with the parameters of the device. When buying an adapter, you need to study the input and output voltage, current strength.

Semi-automatic blood pressure monitors

They are easy to use and inexpensive. As part of a semi-automatic pressure gauge, a pear, a cuff, an electronic device. To measure blood pressure, you need to inflate the cuff with a pen, and the device will perform the calculations automatically.

For a person who decides to measure blood pressure with a semi-automatic device, the following advantages will be of interest:

1. Simple and reliable in operation.
2. It allows you to control not only the pressure, but also the pulse.
3. You can see the data of the previous measurement.

To get an accurate result, you must use the device correctly.

There are the following settings:

1. The cuff must be applied not on the wrist, but on the shoulder.
2. The tube connecting the cuff to the rest of the device must be in the middle of the elbow bend.
3. Blood pressure measurement can be taken after the signal.
4. The battery pack must be changed periodically.

Tonometer on the wrist

There are special devices that are worn on the wrist. A tonometer on the wrist is usually the minimum configuration. There are also very small models that can cling to the finger. They operate on the same principle as the rest of the tonometers, the only difference is in the location.

The wrist blood pressure monitor cannot be mechanical or semi-automatic, it is a fully automatic device. The device, worn on the wrist, is very compact, but gives inaccurate results, since it is not attached to the most suitable place.

Which blood pressure device to choose

A hundred years ago, people did not have a large selection of blood pressure monitors and did not have to think for a long time which one to choose.

Initially, the device for measuring blood pressure was mechanical. It was a cuff, a pear and a pressure gauge, which was attached to the cuff. At first, the manometer was made of glass and was presented as a tube filled with mercury. Gradually, the device improved, the mercury manometer was replaced with a membrane or spring, but the measure remained in millimeters of mercury.

Which device is better to choose, you can ask your doctor.

You can also get acquainted with the most famous manufacturing companies:

1. Omron. A Japanese company that successfully manufactures blood pressure devices. Its success is dictated by competent advertising. But you can buy a pressure gauge from this company only at a fairly high price.
2. microlife. It is also advised to choose a pressure gauge from this company. It is a Swiss company that specializes in medical technology. The manometer of this company is convenient, durable, suitable for home use and has an affordable price.
3. AND. The company is engaged in the development of medical equipment. It offers high quality blood pressure monitors. Unique models have been developed with a cuff that allows you to measure pressure through clothing.

Which pressure gauge to choose is a very difficult question, since the product range is quite large and many devices deserve good reviews. Before choosing a device for yourself, you can talk with your doctor, read reviews and reviews about individual manufacturing companies. This will help to choose the best models with which it will be convenient to conduct daily monitoring of blood pressure.

How to use the tonometer correctly

Whatever pressure gauge you choose, it will not give an accurate result if it is not used correctly. The longest time to measure Hell is on a mechanical tonometer, an automatic one requires a minimum number of actions.

Regardless of which device is used, the procedure for measuring blood pressure should be carried out when the patient is in a calm and sitting position. The cuff should be positioned at the level of the heart. This rule must be followed, as the location of the cuff affects the result. To minimize the error, it is advisable to use a sphygmomanometer with a cuff for the forearm.

In this case, you must perform the following actions:

• Attach the cuff to your arm.
• If the tonometer is automatic, then just press the button and wait for the result. Using a semi-automatic device, inflate the bulb into the cuff until there is slight discomfort.
• After that, it is necessary to loosen the valve and wait for the result on the screen.

The interval between measurements should be up to five minutes. Three measurements are required for an accurate result. Before each new procedure, it is necessary to bend and unbend the arm to restore blood circulation.

To get accurate information about blood pressure, it is necessary to follow some recommendations before measuring:

1. Do not drink caffeinated drinks, alcohol or eat anything for half an hour before the procedure. It is also undesirable to smoke.
2. Before measuring the pressure, you need to rest for a few minutes.
3. During the procedure, you should not talk.
4. The sleeve of the garment must not fall under the cuff.
5. It is advisable to sit on a chair, take a comfortable position, do not cross your legs, but lean your back against the back of the chair.
6. The hand on which the pressure is measured should lie flat on a table or armrest and be motionless.
7. If pressure is measured at the wrist, then the arm must be raised so that the elbow is at the level of the heart.
8. The cuff should fit snugly around the arm.

A tonometer is a very useful thing for any person. Especially this device should be for those who have been diagnosed with hypertension, hypertension or vegetative-vascular dystonia. If you ignore the prescriptions of a doctor and do not control blood pressure, this will increase the chances of a stroke, heart attack and other complications of high blood pressure.