How does a blood pressure monitor work?

The primary function of a blood pressure monitor takes place when the armband is being inflated. When this happens the tightened armband temporarily cuts off the blood flow in your upper arm. Once the armband has tightened as much as it can it begins to deflate and it’s at this point that it takes your blood pressure which is separated into two categories: systolic and diastolic.

The first type of pressure to be measured is systolic pressure. As the armband begins to deflate, the blood begins to flow again in your arteries and creates a vibration which signifies the systolic pressure. Then once the vibration in your arteries stops, this signifies the diastolic pressure which the armband then measures as it finishes deflating.

What makes the best blood pressure monitor?

There are several things you want to look at when shopping for a blood pressure monitor. One consideration is the cost of the monitor itself. Beyond this you should first look at the quality of the electronic monitor and make sure that it’s built of high quality and long lasting components. You will also want to make sure that the batteries in the monitor are long lasting and easily rechargeable or replaced. One last thing to think about is the ease of use of the system itself.

When shopping for a monitor check reviews and ratings to properly assess the quality of the product you want to buy.

What are the different types of blood pressure monitors?

While most types of blood pressure monitors use the basic armband around the upper arm model, there are a couple other types available on the market.

First is the wrist cuff model. This model looks and functions in much the same way that the traditional armband does. The one major difference is that it inflates around your wrist instead of your upper arm.

The other alternative model that you can buy is one which you can attach to your fingertip. However, some doctors question whether this type is as accurate as the other two models.