Home Blood Pressure Monitor – Do You Know All The Facts?
For many people with hypertension, it is often necessary to learn how to use a home blood pressure monitor. If you are one of said people with hypertension, your doctor will recommend it for two main reasons.
On one hand, your doctor can monitor your blood pressure levels over a certain period of time without your actual visits to his clinic. Your treatment protocol can then be adjusted based on the results of monitoring, said protocol of which can include medications, diet, and exercise as well as lifestyle patterns.
On the other hand, you will have a direct and active participation in looking after your physical well-being. In the final analysis, it is you and only you who can make the right changes to ensure that you will live a healthy, happy and long life despite the risks of hypertension.
You can choose from two types of the home blood pressure monitor – the aneroid and the digital. Your final choice will boil down to the pros and cons of each type, as discussed below.
First, the aneroid monitor is also a portable device with its own built-in stethoscope. You can put on the arm cuff with just one hand, not to mention that it will not cost an arm and a leg to purchase one.
However, you should be warned that the aneroid monitor is a more complicated device with its cuff and valve components. Add in the fact that hearing-impaired people cannot effectively use the device since you have to listen to the heartbeat and you may consider the digital home blood pressure monitor.
Second, the digital monitor is the more popular type of the two where homes are concerned. You will love the fact that it is automatic on almost every front with only the fastening of the cuff on either the upper arm or the wrist as the human factor. The rest from inflation and deflation as well as reading and recording of the blood pressure levels are all done automatically via electronics.
For example, you can determine the readings by simply looking at the large digital screen. In many models, you even have the advantage of just looking at the color codes to determine if you have normal or abnormal blood pressure readings.
And if you forget to record on paper the readings, no worries. You have the benefit of digital records complete with the date and time stamp to show your doctor on your regular visit. Plus, even if you are hearing-impaired, you can use the digital home blood pressure monitor since there is no need for a stethoscope.
On the minus side, the digital monitors are often expensive so it will require a bit of thought especially when you are also thinking of your medicines. Most models can only be used on the left arm and, hence, may not be suitable for many people.
However, the most notable disadvantage of digital monitors is that these are very sensitive to height and movement. You have to position your arm or wrist exactly on heart level. Otherwise, inaccurate readings are highly possible. You cannot move around too much as the sensitive electronic components will pick it up, resulting in yet another inaccurate reading.
These challenges, however, can be easily triumphed over with the right use of the home blood pressure monitor.