The systematic need to measure pressure makes you think about acquiring a tonometer. Medical equipment stores and pharmacies offer a wide range of devices. Which pressure measuring device is good and how not to make a mistake in choosing?
Tonometer: what is it?
The sphygmomanometer, a tonometer, is a medical diagnostic device for determining blood pressure. The device consists of a cuff placed on the arm and a manometer - an air blower with an adjustable descent valve. Tonometers are divided into several categories according to parameters:
- Type. There are mechanical, automatic, semi-automatic and electronic apparatus for measuring pressure.
- Cuff size.
- The dial.
- Accuracy of readings.
What is a tonometer for?
Normally, blood pressure indicators can deviate by no more than 10 mm RT. Art. More serious changes indicate a problem with the cardiovascular system. High blood pressure can cause a stroke, heart attack or hypertensive crisis. Correct therapy is possible with daily monitoring of blood pressure, as measured by a tonometer. The best pressure measuring devices help:
- Track the results of taking medications prescribed by your doctor and adjust the selected therapy.
- Identify sudden pressure surges accompanied by a deterioration in well-being.
- Monitor the state of the body after the transition to a healthy lifestyle.
- Measure pressure at home without going to medical facilities.
A good blood pressure monitor in a home medicine cabinet is apparatus No. 1, which is necessary for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus, undergoing constant stress and psycho-emotional stress, having hormonal disorders. The device is indispensable for athletes, people with bad habits, senior citizens and pregnant women.
When is the time to get a tonometer?
Blood pressure control - the fate of not only the elderly. A sphygmomanometer may be needed by young women, in particular pregnant women. According to statistics, up to 20% of women bearing a child experience problems with blood pressure. Hypertension and hypotension can cause serious health problems and can lead to death in the absence of proper control.
Physical activity negatively affects the body of athletes who also monitor the pulse and blood pressure in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Of course, any problems with the vascular system in general and blood pressure in particular - hypotension or hypertension - require the acquisition and use of a good blood pressure monitor. Before buying, it is advisable to view the range of tonometers and choose the best one.
Mechanics or automation?
When choosing a tonometer, buyers are faced with the question of the difference between automatic and mechanical pressure measuring devices. Differences, with the exception of price, are in management, accuracy and other nuances.
Mechanical devices are considered the most difficult to manage. Measuring pressure with their help requires good hearing and a keen eye in order to track the movement of the needle of the manometer and hear the heartbeat.
However, mechanical blood pressure monitors have their advantages: after a mercury such device is considered the most accurate. The error in determining blood pressure is almost zero, the device lasts a long time and is cheap.
The automatic machine for measuring pressure is more expensive, but it works faster and easier to operate. In accuracy, it is almost not inferior to mechanical, but, in contrast to it, can measure the pulse. Modern models are equipped with additional functions aimed at preventing problems with the cardiovascular system. How to choose a device for measuring pressure?
World of blood pressure monitors
Semiautomatic devices - a cross between mechanical and automatic sphygmomanometers. They determine blood pressure and heart rate, but you need to pump air into the cuff of the device to measure pressure yourself. Upon reaching the maximum air level, the device emits a melodic sound, indicating the beginning of the measurement of blood pressure.
Semiautomatic devices are practically inferior in accuracy to mechanical tonometers and are almost identical in price. For this reason, they are often considered the best devices with an affordable price and wide functionality.
Automata are divided into two types, depending on the location of the cuff: on the shoulder and on the wrist. The devices for measuring pressure on the wrist are compact, but do not have high accuracy due to the too close arrangement of blood vessels to the skin.
Carpal tonometers are preferred by athletes who are not afraid of errors in testimony. Hypertensive patients, on the contrary, should acquire shoulder devices - they combine convenience and accuracy.
The cuff of the shoulder tonometer is mounted on the shoulder, on the inside of which large vessels pass. Therefore, they are highly accurate. In addition, they are convenient to use: just attach the device to the shoulder and start it with the press of a single key.
Auto blood pressure monitor features
The capabilities of the best pressure measuring devices are not limited to measuring pulse and blood pressure. When choosing a tonometer, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with additional functions and choose the best option that is suitable for price and features.
Automatic and semi-automatic sphygmomanometers are often equipped with a diagnostic function for arrhythmia. The device monitors heart failure and signals a danger if detected. Arrhythmia is recognized in the early stages, not accompanied by clinical symptoms. For patients at risk, timely diagnosis of the disease is the main task.
Good devices for measuring pressure, which are capable of detecting atrial fibrillation, are the automatic tonometers of the latest models, by the way, very expensive.
Another useful feature is the sequential performance of three measurements and the issuance of an average reading. The accuracy of the automatic apparatus depends on the accuracy of the pressure measurement. Before the procedure, it is advisable to rest for a few minutes, during measurement - to be at rest. During operation of the tonometer it is not recommended to move and speak. Similar requirements apply to all types of devices - both mechanical and automatic.
If there is an urgent need to measure blood pressure and there is no possibility to rest before the procedure, it is better to choose a mechanical tonometer - it will give more accurate readings than an automatic one. A pleasant exception are models with the function of calculating the average of three indicators: they give the most accurate result.
How and where to check the pressure measuring device
It is advisable to test the tonometer before purchase. It should be compact enough in size, comfortable to hold in your hands, a standard cuff should cover the shoulder and not pinch it - overweight people need to carefully choose their choice. The display and the indicators displayed on it should be easy to read.
All blood pressure monitors, with the exception of devices for measuring pressure on the wrist, are connected to the network adapter. It is indispensable for those who often measure pressure. The adapter comes standard with the tonometer, but can be sold separately.
At the end of a thorough inspection and review of the tonometer, you must make sure that you have a warranty card. The document allows you to avoid marriage and to service the device in case of breakage.
Next, we consider the rating of the best tonometers. Models are selected based on cost, functionality, advantages and disadvantages.
First Place: Omron M2 Basic
Automatic pressure measuring device "Omron". The cuff is 22-32 cm long and is mounted on the shoulder; the AC adapter is supplied. It can work on batteries or battery. A liquid crystal display that displays blood pressure readings is located on the front of the case. A little lower is the tonometer start button. If the measurement is incorrect, an audible signal sounds, the automatic shutdown function is available.
Benefits:
- Affordable price.
- Simplicity of operation.
- Accuracy of measurements.
- Five year warranty.
- Ability to connect to the mains.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of function for saving measurements, arrhythmia signal and data scoring.
Second: B.Well WA-33
Automatic device with a cuff 22-42 cm with a shoulder mount. It is completed with a network adapter. The display shows heart rate, blood pressure and information on the presence of arrhythmia. If the rhythm is disturbed or the battery runs out, a beep sounds. Automatic determination of the individual pressure level is carried out by adjusting the degree of inflation of the cuff. The color bar, located on the side of the display, determines the correspondence between normal and measured pressure. The tonometer is activated with one key, it can memorize one measurement. Automatic shutdown occurs a minute after the end of the measurement. Warranty from the manufacturer - 3 years.
Benefits:
- Ease of use.
- Ability to save data.
- Battery low indicator.
- Diagnosis of rhythm disturbances.
- Pressure Level Scale.
- Individual level of filling the cuff with air.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of sounding of the measurement result.
Third place: Omron M2 Classic
Another automatic pressure measuring device from Omron. Unlike M2 Basic, it can memorize up to 30 blood pressure readings. The kit includes a standard cuff for 22-32 cm, universal with a longer length and a network adapter. The device is able to detect arrhythmias in the early stages and reports measurement errors. Simplicity of operation is achieved due to one control key, large display and the absence of unnecessary information. Due to its light weight and compact size, the tonometer can be taken on trips.
Benefits:
- Ease.
- Diagnosis of arrhythmia.
- Simplicity of operation.
- 30 memory cells.
- Universal cuff included.
- Warranty from the manufacturer 5 years.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of function of scoring results.
- There is no battery level indicator.
- Lack of backlight.
- It does not determine the degree of air inflation in the cuff.
Fourth place: Omron M3 Expert
Many people are wondering which pressure gauge is good. Alternatively, you can call Omron M3 Expert. The device responds to irregular pulsations and determines the correctness of the measured readings and the need for a second procedure. A special icon displayed on the screen alerts you to heart rhythm disturbances. The device stores the previous readings in memory and displays them when requested. A separate indicator informs about the correct placement of the cuff on the shoulder, providing high accuracy of pressure measurement. Intelligent system allows you to regularly monitor your health.
Fifth: A&D UA-1100
Digital automatic blood pressure monitor with 23-37 cm cuff made of hypoallergenic material. The last 90 blood pressure readings are stored in the device’s memory, the average value is calculated, and atrial fibrillation is diagnosed. Among the additional functions - an indicator of the location of the cuff, time and date of measurement. Power sources - 4 batteries or mains. The main unit is given a ten-year warranty. Large display numbers, a large power button make using the tonometer convenient for the elderly with low vision. The tonometer warns of patient movement during measurement and improper cuff mounting to avoid inaccurate measurements.
Sixth: B.Well WA-55
The tonometer is an automatic type with a 22-42 cm cuff placed on the shoulder. It diagnoses arrhythmia, warning of malfunctions by sound and indicating methods, and controls blood pressure and pulse. There is a battery gauge. It is completed with a network adapter.
Up to 60 of the last blood pressure readings of two people can be stored in memory. The tonometer calculates the average pressure value, has an automatic shutdown function. The function of storing up to 120 indications is useful for those who regularly visit a doctor, but do not keep a blood pressure diary. Depending on the level of the measured blood pressure, the tonometer display is painted in one of three colors. The manufacturer gives a 3 year warranty.
Benefits:
- 120 memory cells, 60 per person.
- Determination of average pressure.
- Battery and arrhythmia indicators.
- Color illumination of the display depending on pressure.
Disadvantages:
- The lack of sound alerts.
Seventh place: AnD UA-777 AC
Ergonomic design, light weight and compact dimensions make the automatic tonometer an indispensable device for a first-aid kit. The device is equipped with a network adapter. The tonometer is activated and deactivated by pressing a single button. Information on blood pressure, its average value and degree of filling of the cuff with air is displayed on the liquid crystal display. The device stores the last 90 measurements and the average blood pressure level.
Disadvantages:
- A small cuff is not suitable for overweight people.
- Excessive tonometer sensitivity and irregular heartbeat can reduce the accuracy of pressure measurements.
Eighth: CS Medica CS 105
A mechanical tonometer with a built-in stethoscope, which greatly facilitates the use of the device at home. The service life is increased thanks to the metal screw of the bulb and the metal pressure gauge of high strength. The cuff can be independently mounted on the arm thanks to a metal bracket. Its distortion is prevented by a special seal. The strainer on the pear cleans the supplied air from dust.
The only drawback of the tonometer is the small length of the cuff.
Ninth in the ranking: Little Doctor LD-71A
A classic mechanical tonometer model designed specifically for home use. It is equipped with a metal aneroid manometer, a seamless pneumatic chamber, a high strength nylon cuff, a needle air valve, a vinyl bag and a metal stethoscope. There is a locking ring. The weight of the whole tonometer set is 340 grams. It has high measurement accuracy with an error of 4 mm RT. Art.
The disadvantage of the device is that it is focused only on adults.
How to choose a device for measuring pressure?
When choosing a reliable tonometer, you should rely on the recommendations of a cardiologist or therapist. The doctor will help you choose a device whose functionality will allow you to track blood pressure in accordance with the age, individual characteristics, nature and symptoms of the patient’s disease.
Which pressure measuring device is good? Judging by the reviews, all the tonometers presented do an excellent job of their main task - measuring blood pressure. When choosing, it is worth considering that for a high-quality and accurate device you will have to pay a large amount. It is worth acquiring a tonometer only in specialized stores of medical equipment or pharmacies.