Blood Pressure Monitor
The sphygmomanometer is the number one means of obtaining a person’s blood pressure and it is considered by far to be the most accurate means of all non-invasive blood pressure monitoring. While there is an internal vessel blood pressure monitor, this is only used in an emergency room in situations where the sphygmomanometer would not be able to be used. Using an inflatable cuff, the blood pressure monitor which is called a sphygmomanometer by doctors, one can get their blood pressure measurements in units of mercury. This cuff will inflate and restrict the flow of blood through the arm. When the pressure is taken by another human using a stethoscope, it is known as the auscultatory method. However for any other form of blood pressure monitor such as the electronic devices you can purchase for home use or can be found in a drug store, this is known as the oscillometric method. The two differ in the fact that the auscultatory method relies on the stethoscope and one listening to the heart beat whereas the latter relies on differentiations in the actual pressures. Originally developed back in 1896, the sphygmomanometer is still the most common used means of measuring one’s blood pressure. It is also considered to be by far the most accurate means and thus all blood pressure monitors that you would be able to obtain for home use, use this cuff. While for home use you may not have to use the stethoscope, the home blood pressure monitors will generally make sure of the oscillometric method of obtaining your blood pressure. However, keep in mind that this method is not as accurate as the auscultatory method and the blood pressure monitor may need to be calibrated from time to time. The blood pressure monitor is placed on the bicep level with the heart as this is considered by far to be the most accurate place to obtain a measurement. There are two measurements involved in your blood pressure based on the cardiac cycle. The cardiac cycle starts with the ventricles already filled with blood in preparation of the cycle. As the ventricles open up, the pressure created is considered to be the peak and the name given to this pressure is the systolic pressure. At the end of the cardiac cycle as the ventricles are being filled up with blood once again, the moment right before the ventricles open is when the pressure is at its lowest and is known as diastolic. Blood pressure itself is measured in units of mercury. While mercury as a substance may no longer actually be used in the sphygmomanometer, it is still the term used. In some places though the measurements may actually be done in kilopascals in which a single kPa is equivalent to 7.5 millimetres of mercury; or in simple form, mmHg. The units may also be in inches of mercury or inHg depending on whether the foot or the meter is the dominant form of measurement in your area.
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