subject: The Accuracy Of Publicly Used Blood Pressure Machine [print this page] People that must take their blood pressure daily often make use of the free blood pressure machines found in malls or in the health sections of the supermarkets instead of investing in their own. However, with the exception of a select few, not many of these public machines are highly inaccurate and should not be relied on completely.
There are two types of manual BP machines and one that runs on batteries available. Both the mercury and aneroid machines are manual but operate in slightly different ways. The automatic blood pressure machine requires batteries and is a little easier to use. All types of machines have their pros and cons. The automatic, while being easy to use, requires more in maintenance and care. The vital sign levels are read on a large digital screen, and the D-cuff for the arm is simple to put on by yourself. However, the machine is very sensitive and must be checked yearly to maintain accuracy. The batteries must be full every time the BP is taken, or it will not be a credible reading.
The aneroid blood pressure machine is more like the traditional one with a hand pump to start taking the vital signs. After the arm cuff is inflated, the reading is taken with the built-in stethoscope from the numbers on the dial attached to the cuff. However, this machine may be troublesome for those who have to take their blood pressure by themselves since the cuff may be difficult to inflate and the machine needs to be calibrated every year. The mercury BP machine is the classic one that can last for years.
Once deciding on a BP machine for the home monitoring, make sure to take notes of the battery consumption and always take down the results. A well kept BP chart can go a long way for the doctor who will appreciate and value the numbers written down as it will actually record the daily BP of their patient. Not only that, but the number can be used to predict if there are any drastic or dramatic changes in blood pressure and the need to adjust medication will be needed.
After you've decided which type of blood pressure machine is easiest for you, be sure to use it regularly. Recording the results is best since the physician will need to study the levels to determine whether the medication needs adjustment or not. And since you can check whether BP levels are high or not, it's best to keep the phone beside you just in case it's higher than normal.
A BP machine is one of the invaluable assets that are found in any doctor's office or clinic, it will be an invaluable asset to any home where a need to monitor the BP can be done randomly and at any given time. Remember to make sure that the blood pressure machine is fully charged for any fluctuations in its batteries can influence the numbers that finally come out.
