High blood pressure is a common condition that is rapidly increasing among all age groups. Whatever reasons that cause it, one must learn to control it. In today's age, we’re equipped with the devices that can help you to keep your blood pressure in check.
A blood pressure equipment is known as a blood pressure meter or a sphygmomanometer. As the name suggests, the device is made for measuring blood pressure. Many doctors are now advising people to buy a blood pressure machine so that they can monitor their blood pressure at home. The best way to keep an eye on your blood pressure is to follow up on it for several weeks or months regularly to get a better idea.
If you are planning to buy blood pressure equipment, you should consider certain aspects before picking the best blood pressure machine for your needs.
The Best Blood Pressure Equipment
One does not need to be a doctor or carry a prescription to buy an equipment. Nowadays, it is not a difficult task to get a blood pressure machine. You can buy one easily from a local pharmacy store or an online medical supply store. A quick online search will provide you with different models and kinds. The equipment price, however, may vary around $100.
There are two basic kinds of blood pressure monitors, one that comes with an arm cuff and the other that doesn’t.
Aneroid blood pressure monitors: A commonly used monitor that comes with a cuff. You have to wrap it around the upper arm, and it is inflated when you squeeze the bulb. These monitors give accurate reading and are least expensive but easy to damage.
Digital blood pressure monitors: In these monitors, the inflating cuff is very much there, but the reading is done by the machine and appears on a small screen. This blood pressure equipment is easy to use and read.
Wrist monitors and apps: These monitors that do not use a cuff are said to be less accurate as the reading is done with the arm position at heart level. A slight change in the position can affect the readings. The latest smartphones have developed apps to measure blood pressure levels. The readings from such monitors, however, are often inaccurate and dubious. For home and medical purposes, it is highly recommended to go for the more accurate blood pressure equipment.
Whatever model you buy, it is essential to maintain a checklist to get the right blood pressure equipment. Make sure it meets your needs—most importantly—the one that offers accurate readings.
Checklist for Buying Blood Pressure Equipment
It is very important for you buy the best blood pressure equipment that show accurate numbers while reading your blood pressure.
A good fit: The blood pressure equipment parts and arm cuff should be handled with care and preferably light-weighted. Heavy and bulky equipment can be challenging to handle.
Ease of use: The blood pressure machine should be easy to use and read the numbers. It should be easy for you to handle the machine, make sure that it is the right one for you and accurate.
The arm cuff: A wrong size of arm cuff often gives false readings. The cuff needs to be wrapped around the upper arm and ensure that it is a good fit.
The features: At times, you would require extra features like multiple cuffs or a device that can store information.
Clinical validation: The blood pressure monitor you select should be clinically authenticated for accuracy and should have gone through a sequence of tests that validates its accuracy.
The conclusion is to go for the monitors that measure the blood pressure with an arm cuff and can give accurate and consistent results.
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