Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor

Welcome to our website. Here you will be able to find suppliers of an automatic blood pressure monitor that will allow you to conveniently monitor your blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a major medical problem in the United States. It puts extra stress on your circulatory system and can lead to strokes and other problems. Monitoring your blood pressure is critical in diagnosing and managing the disease. The automatic blood pressure monitor makes monitoring easy and simple.

Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or lower. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. Readings between 120/80 and 140/90 may mean that you have 'prehypertension' and are at risk for high blood pressure (hypertension). Only your doctor can tell you whether you have high blood pressure.

From name brands (like Omron, Panasonic, LifeSource, A&D, Microlife, Lumiscope and HoMedics), to drugstore chain labels (like CVS, Walgreen's and Wal-Mart's ReliOn), there are a variety of blood pressure monitors available.

Important features to look for include:

• Accuracy
• Convenience
• Comfort
• Test time
• Cuff size
• Irregular heartbeat detector
• Risk category indicator
• Number of user memories

Some blood pressure monitors even come with software that lets you track your results.

Types of Blood Pressure Monitors

Possibly the most well known type of blood pressure monitor is the traditional sphygmomanometer (blood pressure meter) that is commonly used by health-care professionals. It consists of an arm cuff, a stethoscope and a mercury gauge. It is renowned for giving accurate and repeatable readings. But it is large and cumbersome and not really suited for home use.

The two primary types for personal use are the manual (manometer) and the automatic (digital) blood pressure monitors.

All monitors have a cuff. The cuff has a rubber inner layer that squeezes your arm when inflated and an outer layer made of nylon or similar material that has a means to fasten the cuff in place on your arm.

Manual Blood Pressure Monitor

The manual monitor has a gauge that is read by looking at a pointer on a dial. The cuff is placed around your upper arm and inflated by squeezing a rubber bulb. The cuff is then allowed to deflate while using a stethoscope to listen to your blood flow and to check your heart rate.

Manual monitors are usually less expensive than automatic monitors but require a certain level of expertise to operate. Because of the need to listen to blood flow with the stethoscope, the manual monitor may not be appropriate for hearing-impaired people.

Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor

The automatic monitor is much easier to use than the manual type and is the most popular blood pressure measuring device for individual use. The cuff automatically inflates at the touch of a button. A sensor works with an internal computer to control the cuff deflation and to automatically sense, calculate and display heart rate and blood pressure information on a screen. Be aware that some models require manual inflation of the cuff.

Some models give you an error message if the cuff isn't positioned properly. Others can alert you to an irregular heartbeat. Some of these computerized blood pressure monitors also store your information with the date and time and allow you to review previous readings. Some can connect to your computer to load the readings for storage and display.

There are three types of automatic blood pressure monitors: finger, wrist and arm. Arm types are the most accurate for most users. Finger and wrist devices may have issues with measuring blood pressure accurately, since they are sensitive to position and body temperature.

Finger Blood Pressure Monitor

There are only a few finger blood pressure monitor models available. The finger blood pressure monitors may not be as accurate as other types but their main appeal is convenience.

The monitor should not be used with a cold hand and fingers. It is also important that the finger fits properly. This monitor may not work with fingers that are too large or small. The monitor should also be placed at heart level during operation.

Since these devices can not be easily cleaned, users should always wash their fingers before using a finger blood pressure monitor to minimize the risk of bacterial, viral or fungal growth taking place.

Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

One use for wrist blood pressure monitors is for those whom a large arm cuff is too small or have pain from an inflated cuff. This type is more sensitive to any arm movement; especially with a larger wrist.

Wrist blood pressure monitors can be accurate if used exactly as directed. However, these types are extremely sensitive to body position. To get an accurate reading when taking your blood pressure with a wrist monitor, your wrist must be at heart level. One good method is to simply place the monitor on the left wrist and place that wrist across the chest, resting near the heart. Some units have a positioning sensor that verifies that the cuff is level with the heart.

Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

Arm blood pressure monitors are the most accurate for most users. Since the cuff is normally placed around one inch up from the elbow crease, proper positioning in relation to the heart is assured.

The biggest negative is positioning the cuff on the upper arm. It is important to have the correct cuff size. Large and small cuffs are available separately if required. Some of the better monitors use special sensing which automatically determines the correct amount of pressure to get accurate readings with a minimum of discomfort.

One of the Most Popular Automatic Blood Pressure Monitors

Omron HEM-780 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff