Measuring Blood Pressure: Sphygmomanometers

The sphygmomanometer is a medical device that is usually often used to measure the blood pressure of someone. It usually consists of Mercury but can also be Aneroid and Automatic. These different types of equipment are the different types of blood pressure measuring equipment.

This device works by placing it around a patient, usually around the cuff area of their arm. It then inflates and restricts the blood flow, and gives a reading on how high that person’s blood pressure is. These types of blood pressure measuring equipment are very active and work fairly well.

It may cause a little bit of discomfort for the user but it basically just feels like someone is squeezing your arm and shouldn’t hurt at all. If it does hurt, then contact your doctor and tell him/her that you are experiencing a discomfort with using the sphygmomanometer.

When using the sphygmomanometer make sure that the size you have is the right size for you. In order to get the best possible accurate reading that you can, you need to make sure that it fits you very well. A device that doesn’t fit may give you a bad reading and this can be very dangerous to your health.

If the cuff is to small then the pressure of your blood will be measured as being higher than it really should be. If the cuff is too large then you will get a lower reading of blood pressure.

When you put the device on you will hear a beeping sound, and this is the recording of your systolic blood pressure. The cuff pressure then goes until the sound is no longer heard. The time at which it starts and ends is measured to give you an accurate reading of your blood pressure.

It is important to note that blood pressure is measured in mm HG. A stethoscope can also be used to get a reading of blood pressure; however, this is more so used in auscultatory methods.

There are many different types of Sphygmomanometers, and I will try to explain the basics of each one. Each and every type has its own good advantages and disadvantages.

Digital

The first kind that I am going to explain to you is the Digital kind. These types of monitors are always electronic and fairly easy for the user to operate and maintain. They are very effective in noisy environments as you can easily hear what the reading is.

The problem with digital readers though is that they are not always accurate. Although they are much easier to use, this comes at the price of not being dead on.

This can be a bit of a problem as keeping track of how high your blood pressure is, can be a very important issue. You will want to be as accurate as possible.

Digital types of blood pressure monitors come in all shapes and sizes. Probably one of the best features of these types is that they are very portable compared to other types. You can easily carry them around with you wherever you go.

Manual

Manual monitors are much more accurate then digital monitors but they must be used by someone who is trained in measuring blood pressure. This can usually be a nurse or someone who is familiar with the practice of high blood pressure.

They also contain Mercury which is a very dangerous substance if you happen to get exposed to it. If you ever happen to break one of these then you need to report it right away and get away from it.

Manual sphygomomanometers are currently the best types of monitors you can get for keeping track of your blood pressure. Each of these devices has benefits and disadvantages so you will need to decide what is best for you.

If you need more information on this topic, check out some of these other posts which will help you learn how to use Blood Pressure Equipment and learn how they work and operate. This kind of information is vital if you want to live a healthy and enjoyable life.

As always e-mail me or ask your local doctor for more information on the topic if you need it. They will know the most when it comes to health.