Today, many people with blood pressure problems prefer to buy a tonometer and use it at home. This is very convenient, because you do not need to constantly visit the clinic or call an ambulance whenever you feel bad and you need to measure the pressure. The fact is that in the future both hypertension and hypotension can lead to the development of serious diseases associated with malfunctions of the cardiovascular system, as well as impaired kidney and brain function.
However, each such buyer faces the question of how to choose the tonometer correctly, so that he maximally suits the patient and is convenient to use. In general, there are two types of pressure measurement methods: the Korotkov principle (mechanical) and the oscillometric method (electronic). In both cases, a pneumatic cuff is used. But in the first embodiment, it should be superimposed on the shoulder, and in the second there is the possibility of imposing on the wrist, shoulder or finger, which depends on the type of tonometer.
Also, to answer the question of how to choose a tonometer, you need to decide what types of these devices exist:
- Semi-automatic pressure meter in which the cuff is placed on the shoulder. Air must be inflated manually with a special pear. From the point of view of using the power of nutrients, this option is very convenient and economical to operate. However, such tonometers cannot be used for weak people, because they will need to make a lot of effort to pump air if necessary.
- An automatic pressure meter, which also uses a cuff, but the air is pumped on its own after pressing a button. As a rule, these tonometers come with adapters, which allows the device to work from the network. However, if it is not included, acquiring such a mechanism is not difficult. Of course, in how to choose a tonometer, cost is of great importance. For example, this view is much more expensive, but also more convenient to use.
- Automatic tonometers have also been developed that can be worn on the wrist. They are much smaller than usual, work using batteries (batteries) and have a high coefficient of mobility. So, with such a tonometer, pressure can be measured anywhere. As a rule, athletes use only this type of pressure gauges, because they are convenient during training. But choosing a tonometer of this type is possible only when a person who is less than forty years old will use it. This is due to the fact that atherosclerosis, the presence of a weakened pulse and other age-related changes can significantly affect the accuracy of the measurement, and the readings will be taken incorrectly.
In the question of how to choose a tonometer, one must also take into account the size of the cuff of each of them. If it is too large, it will not be able to tightly grasp the shoulder and, thus, the device will give incorrect indicators. If it is small, it is also inconvenient, because there may be muscle crushing.
If the patient has arrhythmia, a model that captures this pathology will be suitable for him (a blinking heart lights up on the screen). If a person has a weak pulse, it is best for him to use a mechanical blood pressure monitor - the very first type that all doctors use. The fact is that electronic such a heartbeat may simply not be recorded.
In general, today there are various tonometers. How to choose from such a variety? You can consult your doctor or, using the above recommendations, do it yourself. Remember that the accuracy of a mechanical pressure meter needs to be monitored every two years, and the accuracy of an electronic one - once a year.