In modern society, with the improvement of people's living standards, people's self-care awareness has gradually increased. Many families now have their own home electronic blood pressure monitors to monitor blood pressure changes at any time. This method is not only convenient, but also allows for monitoring the health of family members, which is beneficial for the prevention and control of blood pressure.
1. Choosing the right blood pressure monitor
The most commonly used ones are mercury column blood pressure monitors and electronic blood pressure monitors.
Mercury column blood pressure monitors are the oldest, simplest, cheapest, and most accurate blood pressure monitors. The World Health Organization still recommends their use. When using, the mercury must be sufficient, and the convex surface of the mercury in the scale tube should be exactly on the "0" mark. After use, make sure to close the switch to prevent mercury leakage. The disadvantage is that it is not convenient to carry, and a stethoscope is needed for auscultation, making it difficult for people with hearing problems to use.
Electronic blood pressure monitors are compact, easy to carry, and simple to operate. If used correctly, they should be as accurate as traditional mercury column blood pressure monitors. However, they are more affected by factors such as surrounding noise, cuff movement, and friction, resulting in measurement errors compared to actual blood pressure. Therefore, they must be regularly calibrated against mercury column blood pressure monitors and operated in a standardized manner to avoid interference.
2. Choosing the right measurement environment
The measurement environment should be quiet, well-lit, and at a suitable temperature. The ideal temperature is 20-24°C.
3. Choosing the correct measurement steps
The patient should sit in an upright position with their back against the chair, feet naturally on the ground. The upper arm to be measured should be exposed, palm facing up and extended horizontally, with the elbow at heart level. The angle between the upper arm and the body should be 45 degrees, and the distance between the lower edge of the cuff and the anterior gap of the elbow should be 2-3 centimeters. Inflate the cuff until the pulsation of the artery disappears, and then add 20-30 millimeters of mercury pressure. This is the maximum inflation level. If the pressure is too high, it will result in an excessively high systolic pressure.
4. Requirements for the person being tested
The patient should rest in a quiet and comfortable environment for 5-10 minutes before the examination. Avoid changing positions within 5 minutes before the examination. Stop eating, smoking, drinking alcohol, tea, coffee, and other stimulating beverages 30 minutes before measuring blood pressure. Avoid measuring blood pressure when the patient is in a stressful state, such as when the bladder is full, under mental stress, or in a cold environment.
5. Requirements for the person measuring blood pressure
The person measuring blood pressure should have received qualified professional training, be familiar with and master the correct use and measurement methods of the blood pressure monitor, have good hearing and vision, be mentally relaxed, and have stable emotions to avoid the influence of subjective factors.
Due to the variety and convenience of electronic blood pressure monitors, they are popular among the public. Since hypertension does not have specific symptoms, middle-aged and elderly people should regularly measure their blood pressure to be vigilant and prevent the occurrence of hypertension. If there is already hypertension, and the problem is severe, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, and respiration should be measured regularly and recorded for the doctor's observation, which is more conducive to a correct analysis of the condition.
