| Many more people are becoming aware of the issues | | | | with an automatic inflation and deflation mechanism. |
| relating to high blood pressure. They realize that blood | | | | They all seem to have large digital display as well as |
| pressure, if elevated for a prolonged time, can lead to | | | | error indicator to tell the user if they have not put the |
| serious health problems. This is one of the reasons the | | | | D cuff on properly or the cuff is not correctly inflated. |
| market for home blood pressure equipment for | | | | As well as all these features many automatic |
| regularly monitoring blood pressure levels is steadily | | | | machines will provide you with a print out of the |
| increasing. | | | | reading and have a built in heart rate mechanism that |
| The most common type of blood pressure monitor is | | | | measures your pulse. These print outs can be used to |
| known as the sphygmomanometer, which comes in | | | | compare progress or to take to your doctor if there |
| three different versions; the mercury | | | | are concerns. |
| sphygmomanometer, the aneroid and the automatic | | | | There are only a few disadvantages associated with |
| machine. | | | | this particular piece of blood pressure equipment and |
| The sales of the automatic machines have increased | | | | these are as follows: - |
| considerably over the last decade, and there seems to | | | | 1. The mechanism contained within the monitor is |
| be a preference for this design. In this article we will | | | | "complex", quite fragile and very sensitive. Therefore it |
| take a closer look at the automatic machine both what | | | | is important to regularly check the reading that the |
| it is as well as the pros and cons of using one. | | | | machine is providing against a blood pressure monitor |
| Generally, the automatic blood pressure readers have | | | | that is known to be accurate, like one at your doctors |
| all the components found in the mercury | | | | surgery. |
| sphygmomanometer, but all built into one complete unit. | | | | 2. Unfortunately, as most of the people who use this |
| This allows for the unit to be stored almost anywhere, | | | | equipment at home are not trained to read blood |
| and the user does not necessarily need to be as | | | | pressure, they may provide an inaccurate reading due |
| adept to use the machine, as there is not separate | | | | to user error or movement. |
| stethoscopes and gauge to contend with. The | | | | 3. Finally with this particular piece of blood pressure |
| simplicity of the design and the simple digital read out | | | | equipment you need to ensure that the D cuff has |
| means there is less chance of user error being made | | | | been placed in the correct position on the arm. This is |
| and it is good for people who are either a hard of | | | | especially important if the one you have has a wrist |
| hearing or a sight impediment. | | | | cuff rather than an arm cuff. There are specific |
| Another plus point about the automatic blood pressure | | | | models, which you can only use on either the left or |
| monitors is that they are compact enough to be | | | | right arm and getting a larger size cuff may also be |
| portable, and do not contain toxic chemicals that are | | | | difficult to obtain if they are required. |
| harder to transport, especially if flying internationally. | | | | However, the benefits of an automated machine |
| They come with a D cuff, which means you can easily | | | | seem to outweigh the argument against. Of all the |
| place it around your arm or wrist using your other | | | | blood pressure equipment that can be used at home, |
| hand. Although you may have to inflate the d cuff | | | | the automated machines that are available offer a |
| yourself, there are some models that actually come | | | | good solution. |