Best Blood Pressure Monitors
Hypertension is the most under treated cardiovascular condition in the United States today, affecting roughly 20 percent of the population (approximately 50 million people). Hypertension can lead to heart disease, strokes and other health related problems. According to a study conducted in 1997, only 27 percent of individuals with high blood pressure are adequately controlled, leaving millions of others at risk of health related problems. Doctors need to be more aggressive in diagnosing hypertension and the public needs to be made more aware of the risks associated with high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is defined as a blood pressure of 140 systolic or higher and/or 90 diastolic or higher that stays high over a period of time. High blood pressure is known as the silent killer. About 50 million Americans have high blood pressure and 1 in 4 adults have it. Most people who have hypertension don’t even know they have it. Since high blood pressure usually does not have any symptoms, it is important to monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis.
Blood pressure is variable, and is influenced greatly by activity, foods, and medications. Although there are no absolute rules for what constitutes a normal blood pressure, a blood pressure reading of 120/80 mm Hg is considered to be desirable for adults without hypertension. For individuals with hypertension, a desirable blood pressure reading is around 135-140/82-86 mm Hg.
Why Monitor Your Blood Pressure?
Monitoring your blood pressure at home gives you the flexibility to take your measurements at various times during the day. This can help provide your doctor with a log of your blood pressure measurements taken over a period of time. This blood pressure log can then help your doctor to evaluate the effectiveness of medications previously prescribed to you or the need for medication in the future.
Your blood pressure is a vital indicator of your state of health, and these days most doctors recommend that you test your blood pressure on a regular basis. Blood pressure monitors allow you to take your blood pressure readings in the comfort of your own home, thus avoiding increases in blood pressure due to entering a medical environment which can cause sometimes cause misleading readings.
If you do decide to measure your blood pressure at home, you will need to get a home blood pressure monitor. There are many different types of home blood pressure monitors, but the easiest monitor to use is one that is fully automatic. Choose a monitor that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm, rather than at your wrist or finger. The upper arm blood pressure monitors usually give the most accurate and consistent results.
What is a Blood Pressure Monitor?
A blood pressure monitor is a device that is used to measure one’s blood pressure. Most blood pressure monitors have at least two components. The cuff, which may wrap around the arm, wrist or even a finger, and the display or dial to read blood pressure numbers. Manual blood pressure monitors use a cuff and an inflation device that is pumped by hand. Digital monitors inflate electronically or manually, but the readout is digital on an LED screen.
Are home blood pressure monitors accurate?
Your blood pressure can change as much as 20 points in as little as 10 minutes. Getting different readings does not mean that blood pressure monitors are not working correctly. Home blood pressure monitors simply “monitor” trends in your blood pressure so that you can see your doctor at a later date and give them an idea of where your blood pressure is during various times throughout the day.
Fortunately, advancements have been made in home blood pressure monitors. Self inflating blood pressure monitors that use microprocessing chips as sensors are more reliable and easier to use than older models. Portable monitors can be worn throughout the day if fluctuations in blood pressure are suspected.
These advances in technology must be accompanied by better awareness so that to improve the quality of care and to reduce the risks of strokes, kidney damage and heart disease which are commonly associated with hypertension.
If you are interested in other varieties of blood pressure monitors you may want to consider checking out the following brands of blood pressure monitors; Wristech Blood Pressure Monitors, Lifesource Blood Pressure Monitors, Samsung Blood Pressure Monitors, Panasonic Blood Pressure Monitors, Microlife Blood Pressure Monitors, Relion Blood Pressure Monitors, Mabis Blood Pressure Monitors, and Lumiscope Blood Pressure Monitors.
For additional Omron Blood Pressure Monitor resources please visit these informative resources:
- Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor
- Omron HEM-780 Blood Pressure Monitor
- Omron HEM-711ac Blood Pressure Monitor
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