How to buy a blood pressure monitor

1. How to use and choose an electronic blood pressure monitor?

The use and selection of electronic blood pressure monitors As people's awareness of self-care increases, more and more families begin to pay attention to the daily monitoring and control of their own blood pressure. Various automatic or semi-automatic electronic sphygmomanometers currently on the market use sensors to convert pulses into electrical signals, which are then processed by computers and displayed as blood pressure values, replacing the traditional mercury-type mercury sphygmomanometers with a stethoscope. The advantages of the electronic blood pressure monitor are that it is lightweight, easy to carry and use, and convenient for self-measurement, so it is suitable for home health care, especially for business trips and tourism. Since the blood pressure measurement method of mercury-type sphygmomanometer plus stethoscope is still used clinically as the measurement standard, doctors currently use traditional mercury-type sphygmomanometers to measure blood pressure. If the electronic blood pressure monitor is compared with the blood pressure value measured by a clinical doctor, there may be a certain error. As long as the relative error is not too large (generally no more than 10mmHg), it will be fine. How to choose an electronic blood pressure monitor? There are three methods: First, look at the brand. To choose a good brand of electronic sphygmomanometer, the product manual should have a measurement license mark and a product production license number issued by the drug regulatory department, as well as detailed instructions on the correct use of the product. Failure to understand the correct use of the product will also affect the accuracy of the measurement results. Second, look at the repeatability of the measurement results. Repeat the measurement several times on a person with normal blood pressure according to the correct usage method in the product manual, and look at the average value of the results and the error value of each measurement. If the error is too large, it indicates that the product has poor repeatability. Third, check the accuracy of the measurement results. Compare the results measured on the same person with normal blood pressure with the results measured in the hospital to see the error value of the results. If the error is not too large, it can be used as a reference for future measurements.

2. How to use and choose a blood pressure monitor?

With the popularization of medical knowledge, sphygmomanometers are no longer a special device for hospitals, and many families have begun to purchase and use sphygmomanometers. There are three commonly used sphygmomanometers: mercury column sphygmomanometer, electronic sphygmomanometer and barometer sphygmomanometer.

Mercury column sphygmomanometers are generally considered to have higher measurement accuracy and stability. However, since it needs to be used with a stethoscope to monitor sounds and measure blood pressure, the technical requirements for users are relatively high. If the technique is not in place and the operation is improper, it is easy to cause errors in the measured blood pressure. Mercury column sphygmomanometers are currently mainly used in hospitals.

Electronic sphygmomanometer The electronic sphygmomanometer is light in appearance, easy to carry, easy to operate, has a clear display, and can complete heart rate and blood pressure measurements in one go. Generally, it does not require much maintenance, as long as you pay attention not to beat it or touch it with water, it is more suitable for ordinary families. Electronic sphygmomanometers currently on the market can be divided into wrist type and arm type according to the measurement part; according to the measurement method, they can be divided into fully automatic type and semi-automatic type.

3. Can you measure your own blood pressure with an old-fashioned sphygmomanometer using a stethoscope?

Measuring blood pressure requires a stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer. There are three types of blood pressure monitors currently in use: mercury column type, pneumatic pressure type, and electronic type. The mercury column type sphygmomanometer is the most commonly used. During measurement, the subject should rest quietly for 5 minutes to eliminate the effects of stress and fatigue on blood pressure. The subject can be seated or supine. The arm being tested should be placed at the same level as the right atrium (the arm should be at the same level as the fourth costal cartilage when sitting, and at the mid-axillary line when lying down) and abducted. 45 degrees. Roll up the sleeves to your armpits or take off one sleeve for easier measurement. Before measuring blood pressure, the air in the sphygmomanometer cuff should be emptied first, and then the cuff should be tied flatly to the upper arm. It should not be too loose or too tight to avoid affecting the accuracy of the measurement value. The middle part of the air bag faces the brachial artery in the cubital fossa, and the lower edge of the cuff is 2 to 3 cm away from the cubital fossa. Turn on the mercury tank switch. Use your index finger and middle finger to feel the pulse of the brachial artery, place the chest piece of the stethoscope (i.e. the round head of the stethoscope) at the strongest pulse point of the brachial artery, stick it closely to the skin, apply gentle pressure, and fix it with your left hand. Hold the balloon of the sphygmomanometer with your right hand, close the air valve on the balloon, and inflate the cuff repeatedly until the pulse of the brachial artery disappears. After letting the mercury column rise by 20 to 30 mm, you can slightly open the air valve and release the cuff. The gas in the band causes the mercury column to drop slowly and uniformly. Pay attention to the changes in the sound and the scale on the mercury column. When the first sound is heard, the millimeter of mercury indicated is the systolic blood pressure; when the sound suddenly weakens, the millimeter of mercury indicated is the diastolic blood pressure. If you cannot hear clearly, you should first release the gas in the cuff to allow the mercury column to drop to zero, pause for a moment, then repeat the measurement and record the accurate value. After the measurement is completed, the air in the cuff should be emptied, the air valve screw cap should be tightened, the cuff should be untied, fold it neatly and place it and the balloon flat in the box, and close the mercury tank switch to prevent the reverse flow of water and silver. Finally, close the lid of the sphygmomanometer. If you need to observe blood pressure changes every day, you should use the same sphygmomanometer to measure the blood pressure of the same arm at the same time, in the same body position, so that the measured results are more reliable. Patients with better economic conditions can purchase electronic blood pressure monitors currently on the market, which are very convenient to use.

4. Three tips for repairing sphygmomanometers

One of the most common faults of mercury sphygmomanometers is mercury leakage. To determine the cause, first check whether there are cork pads on both ends of the glass tube. Pad it flat and tighten it tightly; secondly, check the tightness of the switch of the mercury storage bottle; thirdly, check whether the mercury storage bottle has blisters. To determine which stage is faulty, you can gradually increase the pressure and observe where the mercury leaks out. You can prescribe the right medicine. If there is leakage from both ends of the glass tube, you can add pads or replace cork pads, and tighten the glass tube tightly. If the switch has poor tightness, it is usually caused by frequent use and gradual poor tightness. You can disassemble the switch and scrub it first, then replace the rubber pad with waterproof silver seepage in the middle and tighten it tightly. If the mercury storage bottle has blisters, you can use a soldering iron to heat the leaky hole and apply all-purpose glue to seal it. The eye is blocked or replaced. Of course, artificially excessive pressure, carelessness when carrying, and failure to close the switch of the mercury storage bottle will also cause mercury leakage and affect the accuracy of the sphygmomanometer.

5. Things to note when purchasing an electronic sphygmomanometer

There are two main measurement methods for home electronic sphygmomanometers, one is the arm type and the other is the wrist type. Both of these electronic blood pressure monitors are suitable for healthy people. But it should be noted that wrist-type electronic blood pressure monitors are not suitable for patients with blood circulation disorders. Diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension can accelerate arteriosclerosis, thereby causing peripheral circulation disorders in patients. The blood pressure at the wrist of these patients is significantly different from the blood pressure measured at the upper arm. It is recommended that these patients and the elderly choose an arm-mounted electronic blood pressure monitor. In addition, you should measure it on site before purchasing and choose the one closest to your usual blood pressure.

If used correctly, an electronic sphygmomanometer should be as accurate as a traditional mercury column or gauge sphygmomanometer. However, the sensitivity of its pulse sensor may cause pressure measurement errors. The position of the cuff and binding, movement, friction, ambient noise, mechanical or circuit failure, can all affect its sensitivity.

Electronic sphygmomanometers have become widely popular abroad, but our country has only just begun to use them. There are not many domestically produced electronic blood pressure monitors, most of which are imported from abroad. With the development of electronic technology, foreign electronic sphygmomanometers have been updated rapidly and have developed into the fourth generation of electronic sphygmomanometers. When purchasing, you should learn more about relevant product knowledge to facilitate comparison and selection.

1. Appearance inspection my country’s Measurement Law clearly stipulates: “Work measuring instruments used for medical and health care shall be subject to compulsory verification.” Sphygmomanometers are listed as measuring instruments managed according to law in my country. The sphygmomanometer produced by the manufacturer should be equipped with a sign in a conspicuous position, which includes the name, model, upper limit of measurement, name of the manufacturer and date of manufacture. The standard document number and type approval number should also be indicated.

2. Accuracy check The error of the blood pressure monitor generally ranges from 2 to 3 mmHg. When purchasing an electronic sphygmomanometer, you may wish to follow the instructions and measure your own blood pressure. You can repeat the measurement several times to see if the repeatability is good, and compare it with the value usually measured with a mercury column sphygmomanometer. Also, when measuring blood pressure, check whether there are any missing numbers on the display.

3. Comparative inspection When purchasing, you can compare the performance and price of different models of products. After you have determined the model to purchase, you can also choose from several products of the same model.

4. Alternating method measurement This is a simple method to determine whether the electronic blood pressure monitor is accurate. The specific method is as follows: measure the blood pressure with a mercury sphygmomanometer for the first time, rest for 3 minutes, measure the second time with an electronic sphygmomanometer, then rest for 3 minutes, and finally measure the third time with a mercury sphygmomanometer. Take the average of the first and third measurements, and compare it with the second measurement using an electronic sphygmomanometer. The difference should generally be less than 5 mm Hg. Electronic blood pressure monitors that meet these requirements can be used with confidence.