www.omronhealthcare-ap.com Open in urlscan Pro
192.124.249.112  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

MORE STORIES


Going Nuts for the Heart
Feb 07, 2020



How Stroke Disrupts Your Daily Life & How To Prevent It - Malaysia
Nov 10, 2022


Healthcare Asia Pacific
MyHealth

 * 
 * Home
 * Therapy Areas
   * Cardiovascular
   * Respiratory Health
     * Asthma
     * Chronic Lung Disease
   * Active Health
   * Pain Management
 * Products
   * Blood Pressure Monitors
   * Nebulizers
   * TEN Devices
   * Body Composition Monitors


Healthcare Asia Pacific

 * Home
 * Therapy Areas
   * Cardiovascular
   * Respiratory Health
     * Asthma
     * Chronic Lung Disease
   * Active Health
 * Products
   * Blood PressureMonitors
   * Nebulizers
   * TENS Devices
   * Body Composition Monitors
 * 

Home Cardiovascular Health Ultimate Guide in Choosing a Blood Pressure Monitor

Cardiovascular Health



ULTIMATE GUIDE IN CHOOSING A BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR


By - Feb 14, 2020
15911 3

Ultimate Guide in Choosing a Blood Pressure Monitor



Self-monitoring of blood pressure at home is an important adjunct to clinic
measurement because it provides supplementary information to practicing doctors.

Measuring your blood pressure at home means measurements can be done in your
usual environment. It also allows for multiple readings to be averaged over
time. Both of which give a more reproducible blood pressure values that are
reflective of your "everyday" blood pressure.
This helps to mitigate abnormally high readings that sometimes happen due
to anxiety when your blood pressure is taken in the clinic environment by a
doctor or a nurse - also known as white coat hypertension.
Informed by home blood pressure readings, doctors can provide more accurate
diagnosis and treatment of hypertension conditions to their patients.

Studies have also shown that patients who were trained to measure their own
blood pressure at home may improve control of their blood pressure by improving
drug compliance - since they become more involved and informed in their
self-care. 

There is now a plethora of devices that are developed with specific purposes and
needs of users. Making sure the blood pressure monitor you choose is right for
you can go a long way in ensuring your condition is well-managed and fuss-free. 

Here are some pointers how you can start choosing one:


1. DECIDE ON THE TYPE OF MONITOR

You may talk to your doctor or pharmacist as they will be able to help in
selecting the most suitable type for you.

Blood pressure monitors vary in their inflation models - manual, semi-automatic
or automatic.

Manual blood pressure monitors must be pumped up using a rubber bulb at the end
of the cuff and have to be used together with a stethoscope to measure blood
pressure. Correct use of manual monitors usually require medical training. 

An automatic monitor also requires the cuff to be wrapped around your upper arm
or wrist but automatically inflates by pressing a button, senses and records the
blood pressure and displays the reading on a digital display on the monitor's
screen. This is most accessible and common type for patients at home.


2. GET THE RIGHT SIZE CUFF

A wrong sized arm cuff or ‘miscuffing' can affect your readings. It is the
biggest cause of inaccuracies in blood pressure measurement.

Measure around your bare arm halfway between your shoulder and elbow using a
close measuring tape to find your size. Most upper-arm models have two sizes or
a wide-range cuff that fits most people.
Make sure your upper arm circumference falls within the range of the blood
pressure monitor cuff.

Most devices are sold with standard cuff sizes that will fit a majority of arms
from the small adult to large adult range. Check the device specifications for
the range of arm circumferences covered.
Children and adults with smaller or larger than average-sized arms may need
special-sized cuffs. These optional cuffs are available from medical supply
companies, by direct order from companies that manufacturer blood pressure
cuffs, and in some pharmacies.


3. LOOK FOR ACCURACY THROUGH CLINICAL VALIDATION

Make sure you can trust the readings that are shown on the blood pressure
monitor. 

Various standards and recognised protocols exist globally to measure the
accuracy of automatic blood pressure measurement devices. Hence, make sure the
device you have selected has been tested, validated and approved for accuracy by
accredited bodies.
Validation bodies include the European Society of Hypertension (ESH), British
Hypertension Society (BSH), or the Association for the Advancement of Medical
Instrumentation (AAMI).
dabl Educational Trust provides a good database of validated models that have
been tested by the various standards. 

A reputable device manufacturer will state whether their product adheres to an
accredited standard on its packaging, if not, on their website.

You should also check if a monitor is still accurate after prolonged use. Manual
blood pressure monitors require regular calibration while automatic monitors
should be checked every once in a while - depending on the manufacturer.


4. CHOOSE AN AFFORDABLE BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR

Monitors vary in price depending on its brand and features. Some of the more
expensive models may include features that you don't even need. Choose an
appropriate blood pressure monitor that is suited for your use and needs. 
Look for product comparison aids that are sometimes provided by manufacturers to
help you in the selection process such as this one. 


5. OPT FOR EASE OF USE

Buy a blood pressure monitor that is easy for home monitoring. Be sure the
display on the monitor is easy to read and understand, and that the buttons are
large and intuitive.
The directions for applying the cuff and operating the monitor correctly should
be clear.

You should also consider its portability especially if you are a frequent
traveller or are advised to measure your blood pressure several times a day.
Look for the one that is compact and easy to bring around with.


6. DO YOU NEED EXTRA FEATURES?

To make your blood pressure routine as simple as possible, manufacturers have
come out with various extra features that may benefit you.
Some of the additional features that you may consider include:

● Heart-related measurements: Measures pulse rate, detects an irregular
heartbeat and tracks changes per second in your systolic or diastolic rates.
Users tracking blood pressure to monitor potential heart conditions could
benefit from these features, but they might be unnecessary for others.

● Connectivity: Some BP monitors can connect to your home computer so that the
readings can be downloaded. More commonly now, there are BP monitors can connect
via Bluetooth to your smartphone, which is very convenient when it works well.
Some monitors even come with an app that helps you track, record and/or share
your blood pressure readings with your doctor.

● Memory storage: Determine the needed memory storage based on how many times
per day you need to take your blood pressure reading. You should also consider a
multiple-user monitor if you and another family member will both be measuring
your blood pressure regularly.

● Adjustable inflation level: The automatic inflation setting might be a lot
higher than your systolic blood pressure, causing discomfort during the
inflation. Some manufacturers allows you to adjust the inflation level or have
in-built technology that automatically adjust the inflation pressure to each
patient's condition.


7. READ WARRANTY OPTIONS

Most reputable blood pressure monitors and cuffs come with a warranty that will
guarantee the proper function of the monitor from 1 to 5 years.
Read the warranty options to know whether it covers the whole monitor or only
the digital display or the actual monitor, but not the cuff.
Know that some brands will charge an additional fee for warranty activation
while others offer the warranty free with the purchase of the monitor.


Tag Cardiovascular Health



Previous article
Going Nuts for the Heart Next article
Daily Habits that can Help Lower Blood Pressure


 * RELATED ARTICLES
 * MORE FROM AUTHOR


Previous
Cardiovascular Health
Why Sleep Deprivation Can Hurt Your Heart
Cardiovascular Health
How Stress Affects Your Heart Health
Cardiovascular Health
What is Preeclampsia and How to Manage it?

Cardiovascular Health
Monitoring your Blood Pressure During Pregnancy is More Important than You
Think!

Next


Popular Video


Stay Connected

|Like


Popular Video


Stay Connected

|Like


© Copyright 2024 OMRON Healthcare Singapore Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.   |  
Terms of Microsite Use