Doctors recommend that everyone over 45 years to monitor blood pressure. So, you will have to buy a tonometer. In pharmacies, they are many and various. Which to choose?
Mercury
Usually consist of mechanical sphygmomanometers cuff shoulder, pear air injection, stethoscope, mercury manometer, which is determined by the column of blood pressure. Currently rarely used.
pros
Very high accuracy.
Low price.
Do not require regular inspection accuracy.
Minuses
Great weight.
Environmental insecurity.
Not suitable for use on the road, in field conditions.
Mechanical
The most common. When measuring blood pressure cuff sphygmomanometer overlaps the arm above the elbow, the air injected into it by hand with a blower. Tones determined by applying the stethoscope to the cubital fossa, and the numerical values on the dial gauge track.
The air pressure in the cuff does not balance the mercury and the vessel is sealed with a flexible membrane. Depending on the bending of the membrane pressure gauge needle moves over the dial.
The cuff is of two kinds can simply wrap around the shoulder and fixed Velcro or edge of the cuff is passed through the metal bracket is tightened and secured with the same sticky. The second option is more convenient for self-measurement of pressure.
Mechanical tonometers typically used by doctors.
What to look for when buying :
1. It is better if the stethoscope is made of metal instead of plastic. Plastic degrades audible tones and material is short-lived.
2. Fully people will have to buy a special cuff up to 42 cm.
3. There are models with built-in cuff stethoscope, they are suitable for independent measurements.
pros
The relative cheapness of the device.
Pretty accurate result, which is not affected by interference such talk during the measurement of pressure, motion arm, on which the cuff.
Not sensitive to slight shock or vibration, anti-shock variants drop resistance to 1, 2 m.
Minuses
So tonometer is not very convenient to measure the pressure himself.
They find it difficult to use the elderly and people with hearing problems.
The life of a pear is small - 2-3 years, then it will have to change.
About once a year tonometer should be given to the workshop in practice.
Automatic
The air in the cuff of the device models of pumps, the result is displayed in digital form. The collar can be mounted using the finger, wrist or shoulder. Tonometer operates on batteries.
Almost all of the automatic blood pressure monitors have a memory function last 20-50 measurements, the ability to save the results for different users, even when the battery is completely discharged. More modern devices have a warning function arrhythmia.
What you should pay attention to :
1. The least accurate tonometers those that measure the pressure on the finger. Carpal designed for those people who do not have severe cardiovascular disease, because with age, blood vessels lose their elasticity on the wrist.
2. On some models, there is light traffic light right body position during the measurement.
pros
The most convenient for independent measurements.
They can be used to measure the pressure in the trip or on the street, convenient to take a blood pressure cuff to the country and to travel.
Most models have large numbers on the display, which is useful for people with poor eyesight.
Minuses
Automatic blood pressure - the most expensive.
And the least accurate: have an error of about 5 mm Hg. Art., the accuracy depends on the correct cuff.
Semi
The air in the cuff of such a device is forced manually, and the result appears on the display. Need battery.
pros
Affordable price.
Compact, which allows you to take such a trip in blood pressure.
Minuses
Precision mechanical inferior.
Personal opinion
Anastasia Myskina
Russian tennis player, honored master of sports Russia
-I Have no home tonometer, though, when I was pregnant, the doctor advised him to buy. I was going to do it, but because the pregnancy is going well and I felt great, so it is not bought.
Source
Industry News
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