Using a Public Blood Pressure Machine
People that must take their blood pressure daily often make use of the free blood pressure machines found in malls or in the health sections of the supermarkets instead of investing in their own. However, with the exception of a select few, not many of these public machines are highly inaccurate and should not be relied on completely.
Any automatic BP machine should be fully charged and calibrated regularly, or the results are very misleading. If the power is not on full or fluctuates, the systolic and diastolic pressure readings will not be credible.
Also, the cuffs are not "one size fits all" and if the customer is overweight or extremely thin, again the readings won't be right. The person taking the reading may not also be fully versed on the upkeep of the machine, and any good they may be trying to do could possibly be negated by the bad results of the machine.
If the patient refuses to or cannot take his BP himself, the best option is still to get the reading at the doctor's clinic. However, there are simple BP machines that are also quite inexpensive available and the hypertensive patient should have one in case of emergencies.
The physician can definitely recommend trusted and proven brands if the patient would just ask. What is highly recommended for patients observing their arterial pressures on their own are the automatic BP machines, despite their being slightly troublesome to maintain as compared to the manual ones, which are almost maintenance free but are difficult to use by yourself.
While the patient learns how to lower blood pressure quickly, daily monitoring should be the norm. Coupled with a detailed diary of results, this is an invaluable resource for the attending physician when determining if the medications should be adjusted, changed, or done away with entirely. It's also good for when the patient isn't feeling well - the pressure levels can be taken and the results phoned in immediately to the physician or attending nurse if necessary.
A blood pressure machine is a necessary piece of equipment for anyone who is suffering from hypertension. Not only will it enable the doctor to have detailed records of any fluctuations during the week, but it can also warn of any impending trouble, with just a few simple maintenance issues - yearly calibrations and fully charged batteries. The blood pressure machine is indeed a terrific asset.
Any automatic BP machine should be fully charged and calibrated regularly, or the results are very misleading. If the power is not on full or fluctuates, the systolic and diastolic pressure readings will not be credible.
Also, the cuffs are not "one size fits all" and if the customer is overweight or extremely thin, again the readings won't be right. The person taking the reading may not also be fully versed on the upkeep of the machine, and any good they may be trying to do could possibly be negated by the bad results of the machine.
If the patient refuses to or cannot take his BP himself, the best option is still to get the reading at the doctor's clinic. However, there are simple BP machines that are also quite inexpensive available and the hypertensive patient should have one in case of emergencies.
The physician can definitely recommend trusted and proven brands if the patient would just ask. What is highly recommended for patients observing their arterial pressures on their own are the automatic BP machines, despite their being slightly troublesome to maintain as compared to the manual ones, which are almost maintenance free but are difficult to use by yourself.
While the patient learns how to lower blood pressure quickly, daily monitoring should be the norm. Coupled with a detailed diary of results, this is an invaluable resource for the attending physician when determining if the medications should be adjusted, changed, or done away with entirely. It's also good for when the patient isn't feeling well - the pressure levels can be taken and the results phoned in immediately to the physician or attending nurse if necessary.
A blood pressure machine is a necessary piece of equipment for anyone who is suffering from hypertension. Not only will it enable the doctor to have detailed records of any fluctuations during the week, but it can also warn of any impending trouble, with just a few simple maintenance issues - yearly calibrations and fully charged batteries. The blood pressure machine is indeed a terrific asset.
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