Top 10 tips for choosing a blood pressure monitor

Who is the best blood pressure monitor manufacturer?
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Omron

B. Well

A&D

little doctor

Beurer

Microlife

C.S. Medica

Another

Total voted: 48

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Pharmacies sell three types of blood pressure monitors. Which one you choose depends on your budget and your goals.

Mechanical. Structurally, they include a cuff, a rubber bulb, a pressure gauge and a phonendoscope for listening to the pulse. It is difficult to use them - you need to be able to handle the device. It is extremely inconvenient to measure your own pressure, therefore mechanical blood pressure monitors are used mainly in medical institutions. The advantages of the device are high accuracy of indicators, subject to the rules of measurement, the most affordable cost. Doctors say that mechanical devices give the least error when exposed to undesirable factors - talking during the measurement process, involuntary movements.

semi-automatic. They differ from the first type by the presence of an electronic display that replaces the pressure gauge. Otherwise, the design is the same as that of mechanical models. Additionally, there may be a measurement log, backlight. For the home, semi-automatic blood pressure monitors are more convenient than mechanical models. They are also affordable and you can use them yourself. Disadvantages - pumping up a pear requires the application of even small, but efforts, which can be difficult for a sick elderly person to cope with. If you violate the measurement rules, the result will be distorted, therefore it is recommended to make at least two measurements in a row and take the average value.

Automatic. The best option for home use, the elderly, who have to independently monitor the pressure. They work extremely simply - the user just needs to put on the cuff and press the button. All indicators will be displayed on the electronic display. These are the most functional devices, which are often equipped with additional options. They are more expensive, but have many advantages.They are very easy to use, you can measure pressure in any conditions, no skills are needed.

To choose the best blood pressure monitor for your home, pay attention to the place where the cuff is fixed. According to this parameter, the devices are divided into three types.

On the shoulder. The most common type. They were the first to go on sale and are still popular today. There are both mechanical and electronic models in this category. They fit almost everyone and give the most accurate measurement results. The disadvantages include only the need to remove clothes, since nothing should squeeze the hand.

On the wrist. Easy to use, but not the most reliable models. They are often chosen by athletes to control pressure during training. The advantages of blood pressure monitors worn on the wrist are small size, ease of use, the ability to measure pressure at any time without taking off your clothes. Disadvantages - low stability of the results, the likelihood of distortion of the results in case of random movement. Models on the wrist are often chosen by people with too large biceps, when the use of a shoulder cuff is not possible.

With fixation on the finger. The least common and most expensive devices. Using them is extremely simple, but doctors have big doubts about the accuracy of measurements. In the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe wrist and finger, the pressure may be different, due to different distances from the heart. Of the pluses - small size (the tonometer can simply be put in your pocket), the fastest possible measurement anywhere.

If you already know which blood pressure monitor is best to choose, do one more thing - before going to the pharmacy, measure the thickness of the arm in the cuff fixation area. This is necessary to select the correct size. Their length can be very different.

• For children, teenagers, petite women, size S is suitable - 18-22 cm.
• Standard size (M) - 22-32 cm.
• Large cuffs for athletes and overweight people (L) - 32-45 cm.
• For very large people or for obesity, a maximum cuff length of 45-52 cm may be required. Finding this size may be problematic.

All these dimensions are usually indicated not only in the instructions, but simply on the box with the product. This selection criterion is very important, since a cuff that is too tight or, conversely, loose can distort the measurement results. If the device is used by several people of different builds, you can choose a universal size or purchase an additional cuff separately.

Sometimes, in order to choose the best model, it is enough to adhere to general principles. For example, if you are buying a blood pressure monitor for a child, be sure to look at the cuff size or purchase it separately. You can find the best option.For example, the Little Doctor assortment has a special children's tonometer, which includes three cuffs of different sizes at once - for newborns, babies up to a year old and grown-up children.

If the person for whom the tonometer is being purchased suffers from impaired peripheral circulation or atherosclerosis, it is not recommended for him to use devices worn on the wrist. With established heart rhythm disorders, it is worth giving preference to models with an arrhythmia indicator. They will fix the irregular rhythm and display the corresponding icon on the display.

For the correct measurement of pressure in people with arrhythmia at home, only modern automatic models that are equipped with an irregular heart rate recognition function are suitable. Other blood pressure monitors may give incorrect values, since extraordinary, irregular heartbeats adversely affect the accuracy of the measurement.

A special arrhythmia sensor monitors the pulse, in those moments when the rhythm is stable, it performs additional measurements. When a rhythm disturbance is detected, an icon appears on the display, and sometimes an audible signal sounds. If the tonometer often shows arrhythmia, this is a serious reason to make a cardiogram and contact a cardiologist.

People with severe hypertension require systematic measurement of pressure. Usually, cardiologists ask patients to keep a measurement log, recording the results of measurements in the morning and evening hours. The task is greatly simplified by tonometers with a magazine. Some models remember up to 500 measurements.

If there are several people in the family who need regular pressure monitoring, you can choose a model designed for two users. More complex and modern devices additionally have a "guest" mode. When enabled, no data is saved.

If you choose a blood pressure monitor for an elderly person, you know that he has poor eyesight, pay attention to such parameters as backlight and indication. It is desirable that the numbers are large and well readable. The backlight is used to measure blood pressure in dim light - for example, in the late evening with a nightlight.

Why do we need an indication? Even smart modern devices require compliance with measurement rules in order to give accurate readings. The indication helps to control the immobility of the arm, the correct position of the cuff. Special sensors detect violations, display a message on the screen about the need to re-measure.

All electronic models are battery operated. This is convenient if you need to take the device with you on trips to work. But if daily pressure measurement is required at home, frequent battery changes will develop into a separate expense item.

That is why it is recommended to look at models that come with a network adapter. It simply connects to the device to provide operation from the mains. For pensioners who are almost always at home, this will completely eliminate the need to purchase batteries.

It is worth giving preference to well-known manufacturers even because they give a guarantee on their products. Electronic blood pressure monitors are sensitive devices, so factory defects cannot be completely ruled out. If you purchased the device at a pharmacy, the pharmacist filled out a warranty form for you, in case of problems, suspected incorrect operation, you will be able to take the device back to the pharmacy within a year or two to send it for repair or replace it with a new tonometer if a factory defect is found.

As for the cost, mechanical models are considered the cheapest. Their price starts from 600 rubles. Standard electronic blood pressure monitors are more expensive, but for 2,000 rubles it is quite possible to purchase a successful and fairly high-quality option.

Mostly automatic blood pressure monitors are now popular. They are optimally suited for home use, many of them measure pressure very accurately. Which company should be preferred? The following brands deserve the greatest popularity among users.

Omron. The company from Japan "Omron" offers users the most modern models of blood pressure monitors. Her equipment is supplied to different countries of the world, and is trusted by doctors. In Russia, the brand can be considered a leader in the sale of medical devices. Their advantages include a large selection of models, compact dimensions of devices, reasonable prices.

CS Helthcare. The company was formed by the cooperation of two countries (Russia-China), their achievements in the field of medical equipment production. The brand is distinguished by a variety of models, reasonable prices.

little doctor. An international company headquartered in Singapore. All their products are certified in Russia, they are distinguished by reasonable prices and good quality. The Swiss company supplies high quality blood pressure monitors. Among them are many models for home use. A feature of the technique of the Swiss company is innovative technologies, three-dimensional measurement of blood pressure values, recognition of atrial fibrillation. All devices are of high quality, but are quite expensive.