Blood Pressure Monitor
A blood pressure monitor is a good thing to have
on hand, especially if you know that you suffer from high blood
pressure, or have a family history of heart disease.
Because blood pressure is an excellent indication
of how your heart is performing, and how much stress it might be
under, your blood pressure is a vital piece of information in determining
your overall health.
Your Blood Pressure Numbers Are Your Vitals
Indeed, along with your heart rate, your blood
pressure numbers are often referred to as your ‘vitals’.
One of the first things most doctors or nurses will do when they
see you in a treatment environment is to measure your vitals with
a blood pressure monitor.
The old school and more traditional blood
pressure monitors that you usually see your doctor use are called
sphygmomanometers. This is the typical cuff thing that they Velcro
onto your arm, and then pump up by hand. It has a pressure gauge
attached, and requires careful watching to accurately determine
your blood pressure.
These traditional blood pressure monitors are
usually used in conjunction with a stethoscope to give a reading
of your heart rate as well. That means taking vitals the old school
way is a very active process and requires some amount of training.
Fortunately, there are newer and easier to use
blood pressure monitors available today. Today you can purchase
electronic sphygmomanometers that are programmed to basically do
everything for you. All you need to learn how to do is properly
attach the cuff to the subject’s arm, which is easier than
tying your shoes. Then with the push of a button, the blood pressure
machine does the rest. It even records your heart rate, and displays
it along with your blood pressure in a little LCD display. All you
have to do is wait for it to finish.
Needless to say, these automatic blood
pressure monitors made my life a lot easier when I was working
at the treatment center. Anyone that works in a medical environment
that doesn’t have the training nurses and doctors have gotten
in the use of a regular sphygmomanometer will certainly appreciate
having an automatic blood
pressure monitor on hand.
Since my heart attack, I have purchased my own
electronic blood pressure monitor.
It’s a nice tool to have on hand to accurately
gauge any stress your heart may be under if you think you may be
having heart trouble.
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Heart
