How To Choose Home Blood Pressure Monitor

By:Dr. Armughan

There are many varieties and types of home blood pressure monitors (HBPM). Purchasing a blood pressure monitor is a great way to keep track of your blood pressure; however, choosing one can be confusing. The choice is personal and usually based on::Accuracy, Ease of use, Cost, Type of cuff, Memory and printing options. It is important to choose one you are comfortable with. This article will give you some tips and information to choose best BP monitor for you.

Home blood pressure monitors are basically of 3 types, Mercury column, aneroid and Digital Blood pressure monitors.

Mercury HBPMs:

Seen in Doctor's Office. They are the most accurate, yet most difficult to use. They use a stethoscope to detect the sounds in the arteries.

Aneroid HPBMs-

are the second most reliable. Aneroid monitors range in price from about $20 to $30. These also require using a stethoscope – which is included in this particular model. They are lightweight, portable, and affordable. Experts from the American Society of Hypertension recommend this type and say that these are the most inexpensive monitors and little can go wrong with them. Aneroid models can be difficult to use, and may require training by a doctor or health worker. Moreover, using these requires good hearing and eyesight and may not be the best choice for elderly or disabled persons. For these reasons, aneroid HBPMs are generally less popular than digital monitors.

Digital HBPMs:

These machines are less accurate, yet they are the easiest to use. They are a good option for people who are hard of hearing or have poor eyesight. If you use it properly, it is best choice for anyone.

Also it is important to consider cuff while purchasing HBPMs. Cuffs are of three types. Arm, wrist and finger cuffs. Arm cuffs are the most accurate. Finger and wrist cuffs are only recommended for those who cannot wear them on the arm. An improperly fitted arm cuff will give a false reading. This is the most frequent reason for incorrect blood pressure readings. To determine your cuff size, measure around the midpoint of your upper arm. If it is

Less than 31 cm (12.2 in), buy a regular-size cuff

Between 31 and 40 cm (15.7 in), buy a large-size cuff

Cuffs must be inflated to measure blood pressure- they include those that must be inflated manually, semi-automatic devices, or auto inflate devices.

Following are some tips when you purchase blood pressure monitor.

Display Size - Is a standard or an oversized LCD read-out needed. Try to take that with normal size.

Power Supply - Battery powered or AC adapter. If you travel the battery powered unit is your best choice.

Memory Features - Some models remember the last reading or multiple readings. There are also models that have a PC link. Better to choose that has a memory of atleast one month BP monitoring.

Printing options- Some monitors also have printing options to keep your record safe

Cuff Sizes - Large and small arm cuffs are available for some units. The size of the cuff on a blood pressure monitor may be the most important to get an accurate reading. So always use cuff which is not too small and not too large.

Cost - Cost may be the most important factor. Remember to do as much research as possible. The more expensive models may not always be as good as the cheaper ones

Accuracy - Readings on some wrist and finger units may not be as accurate as an arm unit depending on the individual.

Ease of Use - Depends on personal preference. People with certain disabilities may find one unit easier to use than another.

Length of Warranty - Warranties vary from one to three years. Check your unit regularly to make sure everything runs smoothly and accurately.

Dr Armughan, Author of this article, read more about choosing Home Blood Pressure monitor

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Home blood pressure monitor, blood pressure monitor, aneroid blood pressure monitor, digital, mercury, automatic, choosing, choose, tips

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Dr. Armughan Riaz
High Blood pressure signs symptoms causes
complications treatment.
www.highbloodpressuremed.com

Top Aerobics Articles
1). How Does High Blood Pressure Cause Heart Attack By : Armughan Heart attack is called as Myocardial Infarction in medical terminology. Heart is supplied by right and left coronary arteries. Whenever these arteries are blocked, blood supply to heart stops and wall of heart damages, result is Heart Attack with symptoms of severe constricting chest pain radiating to left arm jaw or shoulder, profuse sweating, vomiting, and feeling of anxiety.
2). Heart Diseases: New Guidelines for Detection and Treatment of Arterial Disease By : Hector Milla The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association launched different guidelines related to peripheral arterial disease in order to help doctors and all healthcare professionals to treat in a better way this common condition. According to statistics, more than 12 million people suffer from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) in the United States.
3). Heart Rate Monitors – Your Essential Guide By : Nick Carter What is a heart-rate monitor? Monitoring your heart rate is easy: If you're living, you've got one. A heart rate monitor allows you to effectively train at your target heart rate for optimal results during competition. First you’ve got to understand how monitors work. Most look like wristwatches and combine timekeeping functions with heart monitoring.
4). Healthy Heart Awareness By : Alanni9799 Healthy heart awareness is coming up in February. Do you really know if you have a healthy heart? How do we know? We only know after something happens. We always think it can’t happen to us. Having a healthy body gives you a healthy heart. So here are some tips to keep your body healthy. 1. You need to take a really good vitamin. What does that mean? Expensive? No.
5). The Best Diet For High Blood Pressure By : Paul J Johnson If your nurse or doctor measures your blood pressure at 140/90 then you suffer from hypertension. Many adults and even some children have high blood pressure. It is very important to get proper treatment to control your high blood pressure. Diet for high blood pressure patients has to be healthy since along with medications and exercises a balanced diet can equally help in keeping your blood pressure under control.
6). High Blood Pressure And Your Health By : K Johnson In 2003, The American Heart Association reported that nearly one in three adults, or 65 million people had hypertension. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common and treatable condition. You have high blood pressure if your blood pressure has a reading of 140 over 90 or higher (140/90mm Hg). Prehypertension is a reading of 120-139/80-89 mm Hg.
7). Digital Blood Pressure Monitors By : Jennifer Bailey There are different ways of measuring your blood pressure, which lets you measure your true blood pressure and get a list of blood pressure measurements. Electronic or digital devices are the easiest ones to use. Digital blood pressure monitors can also be considered the same way. They are especially convenient for anyone who is not used to testing his or her own blood pressure.
8). How To Choose Home Blood Pressure Monitor By : Dr. Armughan There are many varieties and types of home blood pressure monitors (HBPM). Purchasing a blood pressure monitor is a great way to keep track of your blood pressure; however, choosing one can be confusing. The choice is personal and usually based on::Accuracy, Ease of use, Cost, Type of cuff, Memory and printing options. It is important to choose one you are comfortable with.
9). Good Diet For High Blood Pressure And Hypertension By : Armughan This article will furnish you comprehensive Dietary Advice For Prehypertensive and Hypertensive Blood Pressure Levels. Here you will find Diet Tips To Reduce Blood Pressure Diet For High Blood Pressure and Hypertension, Relation Between Diet and Blood Pressure If you have Bad eating habits then it contributes significantly to unhealthily high blood pressure levels, even in middle age, when blood pressure levels typically rise as part of the aging process.
10). Trans Fats are Another Cause of High Blood Pressure By : Kevin Riley When the demand for butter exceeded the ability of farmers to supply this desirable fat ... the search for a substitute started us on a road to trans fats, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Not until 20 years ago did we finally discover the dangers of trans fats. How Did Trans Fats Enter our Food Supply? In the 1860s butter was in great demand and there just wasn't enough to satisfy everybody.

New Aerobics Articles
1). Atherosclerosis – Symptoms, Causes, prevention and Treatment By : Knut Holt By atherosclerosis the inside of the arteries are thickened, hardened and stiffened, causing the space for blood flow to be narrowed or closed. This will decrease the oxygen supply to local or distant tissues. The primary symptom of this is pain, poor organ function and bad general condition. The further consequences are tissue damage, sometimes acute damage because by stop of blood flow caused by a sudden blood clot formed in the narrowed areas.
2). Butea Superba Mens Secret Supports Healthy Cardiovascular System By : Valipat Muenpan For us, the human cardiovascular system looks as follows: Oxygenated blood is pumped from the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta. Conclusion The cardiovascular system of animals consists of the heart and blood vessels. The blood that is returned to the heart is then recycled through the cardiovascular system. cardiovascula´re [TA] the cardiovascular system: the heart and blood vessels; see under system.
3). The Best Diet For High Blood Pressure By : Paul J Johnson If your nurse or doctor measures your blood pressure at 140/90 then you suffer from hypertension. Many adults and even some children have high blood pressure. It is very important to get proper treatment to control your high blood pressure. Diet for high blood pressure patients has to be healthy since along with medications and exercises a balanced diet can equally help in keeping your blood pressure under control.
4). How To Reduce Blood Pressure Symptoms By : Paul J Johnson Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the arteries. Blood pressure can differ from person to person. When your blood pressure is measured it is expressed in two numbers such as 120/80.The figure on the top denotes the pressure when the heart is pumping blood and its muscle is contracted. If your blood pressure is measured as 140/90, then you are a patient of hypertension or high blood pressure and therefore you need to reduce your blood pressure level.
5). Low Blood Pressure Symptoms By : Paul J Johnson When the pressure of the blood that is exerted against the walls of the blood vessels after and during every heart beat is lower than normal, you have low blood pressure. This can result in insufficient blood flow to the important body organs like the heart and the brain. And this can lead to various low blood pressure symptoms. You may detect low.
6). 10 Common Symptoms And Signs Of High Blood Pressure By : Dr. Armughan High Blood pressure is the measure of force against arteries. Do you have high blood pressure? Do you know what are common symptoms and signs of high blood pressure? This article will give you comprehensive information about common signs and symptoms of high blood pressure. Usually people ignore high blood pressure. Even those who take medicine, only take anti hypertensive medication for short time.
7). How to Properly Begin a Jogging Routine By : Jim Oneill Jogging is not only one of the best ways to burn fat and lose weight; it also makes your heart and lungs stronger. You can jog almost anywhere and just about any time you want, making it very convenient to do. This is why there are so many people who do it. The trouble that most people have in the beginning is not knowing how to get started properly and they usually end up doing it wrong.
8). How to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Attack By : Knut Holt Coronary heart disease and heart attack like heart infarction can in great extend be prevented by lifestyle measures. THE DIRECT CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE The direct causes of coronary heart disease and heart attack are factors like these: - Narrowing of blood vessels in the heart and the rest of the body by arteriosclerosis. - High blood cholesterol level.
9). Blood Cord Bank: An introduction to cord blood stem cells By : Hope Ocampo Finding a source of primitive stem cells. There are news reports about the positive impact that research on cord blood stem cells is having on the possible cure for numerous life threatening diseases. But with so many varying reports about it or even factions it is impossible to keep track of all its useful facts. Stem cells show a great level of plasticity which means they can generate and regenerate into many different types of cells and even organs within in our body.
10). High Blood Pressure And Your Health By : K Johnson In 2003, The American Heart Association reported that nearly one in three adults, or 65 million people had hypertension. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common and treatable condition. You have high blood pressure if your blood pressure has a reading of 140 over 90 or higher (140/90mm Hg). Prehypertension is a reading of 120-139/80-89 mm Hg.