How to use a tonometer? How to properly put on an automatic blood pressure monitor cuff?

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Measuring blood pressure is a process that everyone must master. And it doesn't matter whether he knows him or not. This will come in handy when you or your family members get sick - high or low blood pressure signals a malfunction in the body. In our article we will talk about the intricacies of the principles of operation of the tonometer and its maintenance.

How to use a tonometer correctly - the basis for the operation of any of the options

The way a tonometer works, whether manual or automatic, comes down to one thing - measuring blood pressure. This indicator is one of the main ones in the life of the human body.

Measuring the indicators correctly is quite simple. You just have to remember that the measurement scale is mm.h.t. This is a generally accepted rule and is used in all categories of instruments. It is by millimeters of mercury that a person’s static pressure is determined - his normal state: hypotension and hypertension - malfunctions in the blood pressure system. The rest is a matter of instructions.She will tell you in more detail how to use a manual or automatic blood pressure monitor.

• A special cuff is attached to a part of the human body. We will tell you further how to properly put on a cuff when measuring blood pressure.
• After this, pressure enters the cuff. In manual or automatic mode.
• When the pressure reaches the required level, it is reduced. It turns out the upper and lower pressure indicators are our results.

There are situations when you need to measure your blood pressure yourself. At the same time, you need to know how to put on the tonometer cuff correctly so as not to get errors and incorrect measurements. If the fabric of the cuff fits too “loosely” - it dangles, then you need to tighten it more. Make sure that it follows all the necessary bends - this is the only way you will get true results.

In mechanical tonometers, instead of an automatic compressor, a rubber bulb is used. Read about how to use a tonometer with a bulb right now.

Rules and features of using a tonometer

In this section we will talk about the main subtleties of the work with which each measurement should be coordinated. Stick to them and get true marks on the tonometer.

How often should you measure your blood pressure?

It sounds strange, but doctors do not recommend taking measurements very often. For example, several times an hour. There is even scientific research confirming the falsehood of repeated measurements. The phenomenon was called the pressure measurement waiting syndrome.

The essence of the syndrome is that you convince yourself that the real indicator has already changed, everything is normal and you can use the tonometer again. Let's compare it to the “placebo” effect, when the patient takes regular vitamins and thinks that they really helped him after recovery.

Measuring cycles: when can pressure be measured?

Regarding measurements, it is difficult to say which decision will be correct. Most signs depend on what kind of disease a person has and how advanced it is. There is such a disease as atrial fibrillation. If available, the tonometer should be used after each medication intake.

For others, it’s normal to change the pressure:

• in the morning, after waking up;
• after physical activity;
• after stress;
• before bedtime;
• in an advanced situation - during night mode.

If you have a cardiovascular disease, the patient needs to keep an individual blood pressure diary. It is better to get detailed advice from your doctor or a professional cardiologist. Instead of a diary, some devices (automatic) have an internal memory - they can store information about the last few measurements.

The frequency also depends on the type of device used. The fact is that physically pumping a pear is not always convenient. Especially when you carry out the procedure yourself. The hand gets tired and after the 3-4th attempt it simply refuses to work.

How to choose a hand for measuring blood pressure with a tonometer

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The accuracy of your measurements depends on the choice of hand. The general rule is that the left hand is used as the main one. This is mandatory in electronic blood pressure monitors. Mechanically, you can try to test both hands.

Some doctors have a negative attitude towards the rules for using a certain hand. They insist that you need to measure on both: where the higher value is obtained, that will be your pressure at the time of measurement.

How to put on a blood pressure cuff

For a mechanical device this is more important than ever.This is because incorrect placement of the cuff will lead to a big mistake in the numbers. And you – to stress, buying unnecessary medications and over-inflating.

The fabric should fit snugly to the arm, repeating the structure of the shoulder or wrist (depending on where you installed the device). For an automatic device, just fix your wrist and press the appropriate button.

Now you know how to properly put on a blood pressure cuff and avoid making significant mistakes.

How to use an automatic and mechanical tonometer - related rules

To improve the accuracy of the final result, you need:

• Before starting, just sit quietly for about 5-10 minutes.
• Do not smoke for an hour before measurement.
• The best position is sitting. The hand should be freely placed in a static position. Free her from her clothes. Do not change pressure on an arm with bruises, scars, or wounds that have not yet healed.
• The elbow is placed at the level of the heart, after which the hand is fixed on a static surface (usually on a table).
• The cuff must be worn so that the distance between the elbow and the fabric is the thickness of two fingers. The cuff itself is installed tightly. But not so much as regards pain.
• Blood pressure is measured in both arms at two-minute intervals. If the results differ by 5 mm or more, the procedure must be repeated. Your score is the average between both hands.

If you are measuring for the first time, then you need to do it on both hands. Afterwards, the procedure is repeated on the side where the pressure was higher. A more difficult option is when the rhythm of the heartbeat is disturbed. Only the medical staff can say a normal result in this case.

If you have hypertension, your blood pressure should be changed twice a day: morning and evening. It should also be recorded in case of any deterioration in the patient’s condition. All results are recorded in a notebook or a separate diary.

How to use an automatic tonometer correctly

The operating principle of an automatic tonometer is even simpler than its mechanical counterpart. Therefore, we will not specifically analyze how a mechanical tonometer works.

As practice has shown, electronics produce less accurate results. It is more sensitive, so even incorrect fixation can completely disrupt the procedure.

The device is easy to use. You need to put the cuff on your arm, wrist (depending on what option you have at home) and press the only start button. Next, the automatic compressor will start working, pumping air into the cuff. After deflating the cuff, the result of the device’s operation appears on the display.