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Measuring your blood pressure regularly at home is a recommended practice for many people, but especially for those who have high blood pressure (hypertension) or the risk factors for developing it. That's why it's wise to purchase a good quality blood pressure machine and learn how to use it properly.
To get the best results from using a blood pressure machine, take your blood pressure at regular times and record the measurements. Then show your record to your family doctor so he or she can see how well you're managing your blood pressure through diet and exercise, or whether you need to go on medication or have the dosage of your medication adjusted.
An aneroid monitor looks like the kind your doctor uses, except that it has a stethoscope built into the cuff. This means you don't have to purchase a separate stethoscope to hear the heart sounds that mark your blood pressure. The cuff is inflated in the same way, too, by pressing a bulb. An aneroid monitor also has a dial gauge attached to you so you can record the numbers at which you first hear heart sounds and when the heart sounds fade away. These two numbers are what make up your blood pressure.
There are some disadvantages to an aneroid monitor, however. It's easier to damage this kind of blood pressure machine, so you could get inaccurate readings more often. People with handicapping conditions, such as arthritis in their hands or hearing impairments, can find it hard to inflate the cuff or to hear heart sounds through the stethoscope. People for whom this problems make the aneroid monitor too hard to use often turn to digital monitors instead.
Digital monitors can have automatic or manual cuffs. The readings it takes are shown on a small screen, such as on a digital clock or watch. Its ease of use makes this type of blood pressure machine the more popular, especially for people who have handicapping conditions that make it difficult to use an aneroid monitor. However, a digital monitor's accuracy can be affected by body movement, or by an irregular pulse. Finger/wrist types of digital monitors have shown to be the most inaccurate because they are more sensitive to body temperature and position. They are also the more expensive kind of device.
When choosing a blood pressure machine, be sure to get the right size cuff for the size of your arm. Your readings will be wrong if your cuff is the wrong size. You should get a monitor with numbers that are easy for you to read. Shop around until you find a blood pressure machine with the right features at the right cost so you can be an active partner in your health care.
To get the best results from using a blood pressure machine, take your blood pressure at regular times and record the measurements. Then show your record to your family doctor so he or she can see how well you're managing your blood pressure through diet and exercise, or whether you need to go on medication or have the dosage of your medication adjusted.
An aneroid monitor looks like the kind your doctor uses, except that it has a stethoscope built into the cuff. This means you don't have to purchase a separate stethoscope to hear the heart sounds that mark your blood pressure. The cuff is inflated in the same way, too, by pressing a bulb. An aneroid monitor also has a dial gauge attached to you so you can record the numbers at which you first hear heart sounds and when the heart sounds fade away. These two numbers are what make up your blood pressure.
There are some disadvantages to an aneroid monitor, however. It's easier to damage this kind of blood pressure machine, so you could get inaccurate readings more often. People with handicapping conditions, such as arthritis in their hands or hearing impairments, can find it hard to inflate the cuff or to hear heart sounds through the stethoscope. People for whom this problems make the aneroid monitor too hard to use often turn to digital monitors instead.
Digital monitors can have automatic or manual cuffs. The readings it takes are shown on a small screen, such as on a digital clock or watch. Its ease of use makes this type of blood pressure machine the more popular, especially for people who have handicapping conditions that make it difficult to use an aneroid monitor. However, a digital monitor's accuracy can be affected by body movement, or by an irregular pulse. Finger/wrist types of digital monitors have shown to be the most inaccurate because they are more sensitive to body temperature and position. They are also the more expensive kind of device.
When choosing a blood pressure machine, be sure to get the right size cuff for the size of your arm. Your readings will be wrong if your cuff is the wrong size. You should get a monitor with numbers that are easy for you to read. Shop around until you find a blood pressure machine with the right features at the right cost so you can be an active partner in your health care.
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