Many doctors recommend that patients who have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, regularly monitor their blood pressure at home. A good quality blood pressure machine will make it simple and effective to keep a regular record of your health.

To get the best results from using a blood pressure machine, take your blood pressure at regular times and record the measurements. Then show your record to your family doctor so he or she can see how well you’re managing your blood pressure through diet and exercise, or whether you need to go on medication or have the dosage of your medication adjusted.

An aneroid monitor looks like the kind your doctor uses, except that it has a stethoscope built into the cuff. This means you don’t have to purchase a separate stethoscope to hear the heart sounds that mark your blood pressure. The cuff is inflated in the same way, too, by pressing a bulb. An aneroid monitor also has a dial gauge attached to you so you can record the numbers at which you first hear heart sounds and when the heart sounds fade away. These two numbers are what make up your blood pressure.

Digital monitors are popular because they’re easier to use than aneroid monitors. In addition to a cuff that inflates automatically, older people especially find the monitor’s digital read-out to be easier to see, like the screen on a digital clock. For all their ease of use, however, digital monitors can be less accurate than the aneroid type of blood pressure machine. This type of monitor, especially the most popular finger/wrist versions, are more likely to give an inaccurate reading because of an irregular heartbeat, body temperature or body movement.

Aneroid monitors, on the other hand, require more skill to use, but are more likely to give accurate readings. Many models have built-in stethoscopes to monitor the heart sounds that tell you where to mark the upper and lower levels of blood pressure. The aneroid version has a dial gauge rather than a digital read-out. It’s typically inflated by squeezing a rubber bulb. Any of these factors can make it more difficult for a patient to use an aneroid monitor at home. They’re also prone to damage easily, which can affect the accuracy of the reading.

Whichever type of blood pressure machine you use, it’s important to write down your blood pressure readings on a regular basis. Your doctor can then use your records to decide on the proper course of treatment for your high blood pressure.

Tags: Health

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