| The mercury sphygmomanometer is the most | | | | They have a long tubular gauge, which is often made |
| common piece of blood pressure equipment you are | | | | from either glass or plastic, which contains mercury. |
| likely to see. Certainly when you walk in to your | | | | Generally, this type of equipment is not recommended |
| doctor's surgery it is usually a feature, and a standard | | | | for home use, as it can be bulky and if the mercury |
| piece of equipment which is taken out at what seems | | | | leaks it can be a hazard. However there are some |
| like every opportunity. | | | | versions which have been especially designed for |
| The concern that most doctors have about high blood | | | | home use, which are both lightweight and relatively |
| pressure in their patients is understandable. The | | | | safe. |
| numbers of cases of people with high blood pressure | | | | Most models use a D cuff and a separate |
| is on the rise, with the blame being put squarely on our | | | | stethoscope to help in the reading process. However |
| westernized lifestyles of low activity, a diet rich in | | | | the models that are used at home generally come |
| sodium, high in fat and processed foods, and busy | | | | with a D cuff that has a stethoscope attached to it so |
| stressful schedules. | | | | that it is convenient for a person to use themselves |
| Although the incidence of high blood pressure | | | | and so they will be able to take their own blood |
| diagnosed on the increase, there are many people | | | | pressure reading. |
| who are not diagnosed, as there are few symptoms | | | | There are some disadvantages to using a mercury |
| to show that a person has high blood pressure unless | | | | sphygmomanometer. The first being is that they can |
| it becomes chronic. This is why it is called the "silent | | | | be bulky to carry, there is padding to ensure that it can |
| killer" | | | | survive a few gentle knocks, but this can make it |
| So, this is why a doctor will take blood pressure of a | | | | harder to transport. Also, when travelling abroad there |
| patient, it seems at any given opportunity, as this is | | | | may be the need to declare that toxic substances are |
| currently the best way of telling if someone has high | | | | being transported. |
| blood pressure. | | | | You will also need it to be a position that you can read |
| If high blood pressure is spotted there are some | | | | it easily (eye level is best) to ensure that the reading |
| effective steps that need to be taken to lower blood | | | | you take is accurate. |
| pressure as soon as possible, as it is the elevated | | | | Plus, unfortunately, because of its design the mercury |
| blood pressure that can cause damage to arteries and | | | | may not work as well for those people who have |
| major organs. | | | | either a visual or hearing impediment. It is also not the |
| | | | right kind of equipment to be used by people who can |
| Continue reading to discover natural methods to relieve | | | | not carry out the hand movement required to squeeze |
| blood pressure symptoms and sign up for our free | | | | the bulb to inflate the D cuff. In this case an automatic |
| newsletter. | | | | machine that has a built in pump would be a better |
| The mercury sphygmomanometer is slowly being | | | | option. |
| replaced by automated equipment, but it is still used by | | | | If you are intent on having some form of blood |
| many physicians because it is durable, easy to read | | | | pressure equipment at home, then consider an |
| and in most cases will not need any readjustment | | | | automated machine. They have shown to require less |
| even if it has been used for years. It relies on gravity | | | | manual manipulation and can include functions to make |
| to ensure that it provides the user with a consistent | | | | reading blood pressure easier like automatic inflation |
| and accurate reading at all times. | | | | and a digital read out. |