Tonometers: which is better? Reviews Tonometers for measuring pressure

One of the most common diseases on the planet is hypertension. The insidiousness of this disease lies in the fact that for a very long time it does not manifest itself. In order to live long, to maintain one’s health and to take the necessary measures in the event of an increase or decrease in blood pressure, it is necessary to control it. Great helpers in this will be tonometers. Which is better? Reviews are completely different, each person should individually choose for themselves this or that type of this device.

Basic methods for controlling pressure

1. Auscultatory, or, as it is also called, Korotkov’s method. Heart sounds are heard with a stethoscope. This is the basis of all mechanical apparatus for measuring blood pressure.
2. Oscillometric method. The sound wave generated in the cuff by heart contractions is electronically processed.

To quickly determine blood pressure readings, there is a special sphygmomanometer device, it is used in both home and medical practice.

For people with hypertension, devices such as blood pressure monitors are sold. Which is better? Reviews about them are very diverse, so it is quite difficult to answer this question. Depending on age, state of health, a person can choose for himself a certain type of tonometer.

How to choose a device?

To begin with, it is worth asking yourself a few questions so that you can determine which type of tonometer to choose: mechanical, automatic or semi-automatic.

Decision-making questions

1. How often will blood pressure need to be measured?
2. What diseases does a person have?
3. Based on financial capabilities, how much can I spend on the purchase of the device?

For people under the age of forty in the absence of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, carpal tonometers are appropriate. They are worn as wrist watches. Such models are chosen by athletes - thus it is convenient to monitor the pulse during training. The same goes for blood pressure.

For older people, it is best to use tonometers with a shoulder cuff. The vessels on the wrist are smaller. Pulse and blood flow in this case are more different. It is advisable to use a blood pressure monitor, as in the case of measuring blood pressure using mechanical and semi-automatic models, there is a risk of increasing blood pressure against a background of power load when pumping the cuff with a pear.

There are special instruments with which pregnant women measure blood pressure. Such models allow even in the early stages to determine the tendency to preeclampsia - a complication of toxicosis during the period of gestation.

Recently, female devices have appeared that take into account the characteristics of pressure during pregnancy.

If you use a semi-automatic blood pressure monitor, air is manually injected into the cuff, and the result is displayed on the display. Compact models are easy to use and affordable. This is the best tonometer for traveling or relaxing in the country.

Some models have a special children's cuff. Such devices allow you to measure blood pressure in children.

For those who suffer from atherosclerosis or tachycardia, there are special models of tonometers. In them, the measurement is carried out three times, after which the device itself calculates the averaged indicator.

For those who have an increased pulse, there are also special tonometer models with an arrhythmia indicator. During research, an icon indicating a high heartbeat is displayed on the LCD. In this case, re-measure the pressure.

There are tonometers that measure blood pressure on the finger. They are the least accurate and are not suitable for those who suffer from heart disease.

The best tonometers

According to reviews of people who often use such medical devices, you can make a small list of blood pressure monitors that prefer to acquire hypertension:

1. Omron device from Japan - price from 1600 rubles.
2. Gamma devices made in China - cost from 600 rubles.
3. Swiss tonometer "Microlife" - will cost 3500-4000 rubles.
4. Japanese devices AND - from 2000 rubles.
5. Devices Little Doctor from Singapore - about 2000 rubles.
6. High-quality tonometers Nissei of Japanese production - about 2500 rubles.

What are the benefits of the Omron tonometer?

1. The devices of this company are electronic. Thanks to them, it becomes possible to measure blood pressure very quickly.
2. The product line includes several models: carpal and traditional, with a cuff worn on the forearm.
3. All models are compact, they can be used at home or at work, and maybe during rest.
4. An indisputable plus is the presence of useful functions.
5. Very simple operation - with one button.
6. Wide screen, which is very important for people with low vision.
7. The device can store measurements in memory.
8. This tonometer, the price of which is quite reasonable, is able to calculate the average value of the readings.
9. The warranty on the device is five years, all readings are very accurate.
10. Intelligent management.

Long-life Omron tonometers ideally combine price and quality.

Types of blood pressure monitors

• Mechanical.
• Electronic - semi-automatic and automatic.

The main advantages of the device

1. High-quality blood pressure monitors show an accurate and stable result.
2. Some Japanese-made models have artificial intelligence. There is a special Intellisense function, thanks to which it becomes possible to take into account arrhythmia and other individual features, correct errors to improve measurement accuracy. These devices have a large and clear monitor that facilitates the reading of measurement results. If a person has poor eyesight, then it is worth choosing such a tonometer, the instructions for it will help you figure out how to handle the device correctly.
3. Many electronic devices have a function to pre-determine the upper pressure, so you can properly pump the cuff before you start measuring blood pressure.
4. Semi-automatic appliances are cheaper.
5. Automatic blood pressure monitors simplify the measurement process as much as possible - you just need to press a button.

Do you choose blood pressure monitors? Which is better? Each user gives his own reviews about the models, so they need to be selected individually.

How to measure blood pressure?

In order to achieve accurate readings, you need to know all the nuances of performing this procedure.

1. Pressure should be measured one to two hours after eating.
2. For half an hour before taking the testimony, you should not smoke or consume caffeinated foods. Do not drink alcohol before this. Also, exclude physical activity.
3. In the process of determining blood pressure readings, you can not talk and make sudden movements.
4. The cuff should be applied in such a way that its lower edge is located a couple of centimeters above the bend of the elbow, and between it and the shoulder surface there are two fingers (for adults) or one (for children).
5. If you measure the pressure in a sitting position, you need a chair with a straight back, on which you should lean your back. In this case, the legs are on the floor. This eliminates the increase in pressure due to isometric muscle tension.
6. Depending on the tonometer model, the cuff size should correspond to the circumference of the shoulder or wrist.
7. The tube should enter the cuff under the elbow at the heart level.
8. After checking the pressure on both hands, choose the result that is greater according to indications.
9. True data cannot be obtained at one time. Repeatedly measure the pressure twice, taking a break of three minutes. After that, the average indicator is calculated.

Important recommendations for choosing and using the appliance

1. Have you decided to purchase a device and are studying tonometers? Which is better? Reviews about these devices are very important to study. But it is worth paying special attention to more functional tonometers, although they are more expensive.
2. If you measure the pressure from three to four times a day daily, then the batteries will last 3-4 months. When they are replaced or completely discharged, the data in the device’s memory is completely erased.
3. It is necessary to inflate the cuff thirty to forty millimeters of mercury higher than the upper systolic pressure.
4. If there is a sharp discharge of air from the cuff, change the batteries or pay attention to the network adapter if the device is working on it. This means that the required power is not provided.
5. Automatic models operate on batteries or from the network, if there is a connector for an adapter. The situation is different with semi-automatic machines. These devices operate exclusively on batteries.

What additional functions are there in the measuring apparatus?

1. MAM is a technology that allows you to calculate the average value after three consecutive measurements. The result is known in less than two minutes.
2. PAD - this technology helps diagnose pulse arrhythmias when measuring blood pressure.
3. Some models have diagnostic functions, which include automatic calculation of mean pressure, an arrhythmia indicator.
4. There are also such devices in which there is a calendar and a clock.
5. The memory indicator and the notification timer are important functions in the device.
6. A system that monitors the quality of measurements and saves battery power.

Devices for measuring blood pressure in children

Do you choose baby tonometers? Which is better? Reviews claim that it is impossible to give unambiguous assessments, it all depends on many nuances. In children, blood pressure is much lower than in adults. The thing is that the lumen of the vessels in the child is wider, they are more elastic. The capillary network is larger.

In order to measure the pressure of the child, you can use any device - electronic or mechanical. The difference is only in the size of the cuff. The cuff is often delivered in a standard size for adults. It is 22–42 cm. Therefore, the pediatric cuff will have to be purchased separately.

Key selection criteria

The cuff should be selected not by age, but by the circumference of the arm. For newborns, you need to use the neonatal model. Its size is from 5 to 7.5 cm. As for measuring pressure in infants, the infant model from 7.5 to 13 cm is perfect for this purpose. The children's cuff has the following sizes - from 13 to 20 cm.

Some manufacturers produce automatic children's tonometer models. They have a bright color, they do not have sharp corners. Such devices resemble children's toys.

In addition, it is appropriate to use a carpal tonometer to measure the pressure in a child, while fixing it on the baby’s shoulder.

Those who suffer from hypertension or hypotension should definitely get advice from a specialist. The doctor will help you choose the perfect model among the variety of blood pressure monitors. It is very important to control the pressure, because you can notice deviations from normal indicators in time and take the necessary measures in order to stabilize the condition.