Are blood pressure monitors important at home?

For centuries, blood pressure monitoring has been used to keep people healthy and safe. However, with the advent of technology, it has taken on a whole new meaning. Blood pressure monitoring has evolved from using a traditional sphygmomanometer to using digital devices such as blood pressure monitors. Before these devices were developed, doctors would have to manually calculate a patient's blood pressure and then compare it with a manual sphygmomanometer. This process is now done electronically and allows for greater accuracy as well as fast and convenient blood pressure checks. 

What is a blood pressure monitor? 
A blood pressure monitor is an essential piece of equipment for any person who is at risk of heart problems. It is used to measure the blood pressure of patients i.e. the amount of blood being pumped out of a person's heart per beat. It makes sure that the person has a healthy blood pressure level, which ensures proper blood circulation, good health, and prevents diseases. Blood pressure is most often measured in millimeters mercury (mm Hg) or millimeters mercury torr (mmHg torr). The average adult has a normal range of between 90/60 to 140/90mmHg. In most cases, an individual's blood pressure tends to be lower than this range; however, it varies from person to person.

Components of a blood pressure monitor
A blood pressure monitor is composed of a cuff, a tube, and a display. These components work together to measure your blood pressure. The cuff is designed to wrap around the arm where it attaches with an airtight seal. The tube is inserted into the cuff and connects to the display that displays readings on its screen.

Why do you need a blood pressure monitor at home? 
Some of the reasons you need to monitor your blood pressure at home include:

▪ Help with early diagnosis: Self-monitoring can help your doctor diagnose high blood pressure earlier than if you have only occasional blood pressure readings in a medical office. Home monitoring is especially important if you have elevated blood pressure or another condition that could contribute to high blood pressure, such as diabetes or kidney problems.

▪ Help track your treatment: The only way to know whether your lifestyle changes or medications are working is to check your blood pressure regularly. Monitoring blood pressure changes at home can help you and your doctor make decisions about your treatment, such as adjusting dosages or changing medications.

▪ Encourage better control: Self-monitoring can give you a stronger sense of responsibility for your health. You may feel even more motivated to control your blood pressure with an improved diet, physical activity, and proper medication use.

▪ Cut your health care costs: Self-monitoring might decrease your visits to your doctor or clinic.

▪ Check if your blood pressure differs outside the doctor's office: Some people experience spikes in blood pressure due to anxiety associated with seeing a doctor (white coat hypertension). Other people have normal blood pressure at a clinic, but elevated pressure elsewhere (masked hypertension). Monitoring blood pressure at home can help determine if you have true high blood pressure.

How to use a blood pressure monitor at home: 
▪ Avoid caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. ▪ Sit with your feet flat on the floor, rest your back against the chair, and place your arm on a table or other flat surface. ▪ After sitting quietly for five minutes, wrap the cuff snugly around the upper part of your bare arm. The center of the cuff should sit over your artery (some blood pressure monitors have an arrow to help you with placement). ▪ With a manual monitor, you'll have to squeeze the bulb to inflate the cuff, and then deflate the cuff slowly. An automatic monitor will inflate by itself when you press a button. ▪ Check the top and bottom readings on the dial or display window. The top number is your systolic pressure—the blood pressure when your heartbeats. The bottom number is your diastolic pressure—the pressure in between heartbeats. Write down your blood pressure number each time you measure it so you can track it over time.

Factors to consider before buying a blood pressure monitor.

If you're looking for the best blood pressure monitor, there are a few things you need to consider before buying one.

• Check the fit: Make sure the blood pressure monitor you choose has a cuff that fits the circumference of your upper arm or wrist. (Use a tape measure to be certain.) Using a cuff that’s the wrong size can result in inaccurate readings. Most of the arm models we tested have two cuffs or a cuff that can be adjusted to fit most people. Wrist models also fit most people.

• Ease to use and read: : The display on the monitor should be easy to read. The buttons should be large and intuitive. The directions for using the cuff and operating the monitor should be clear.

• Select the features you need: There are many features to look for when selecting a blood pressure monitor. Here are some to consider: an irregular-heartbeat detector, a risk-category indicator, multiple user memories, multiple cuffs, memory download capability, a large-digit display, and a data-averaging function. For more details, contact our customer care representative.