Expert guidance on how to use electronic blood pressure monitors accurately

Expert guidance on how to use electronic blood pressure monitors accurately

In recent years, with the popularization of electronic blood pressure monitors, home self-monitoring of blood pressure has become increasingly important. Self testing blood pressure is convenient, feasible, and inexpensive. Patients can measure their blood pressure at any time, timely understand their own blood pressure situation, improve treatment compliance, and avoid high blood pressure measurement values caused by mental stress. Although electronic blood pressure monitors have many benefits, it is inevitable to encounter many problems during use. We have collected some frequently asked questions and provided readers with answers.

1.Is electronic blood pressure monitors affected by seasons? Using an electronic blood pressure monitor, when measured in summer, blood pressure is normal, but when measured in winter, blood pressure is higher. Will the accuracy of an electronic blood pressure monitor be affected by temperature?

Answer: It's not that electronic blood pressure monitors are influenced by seasons, but rather that human blood pressure is influenced by seasons. Blood pressure will slightly decrease in summer and significantly increase in winter, especially for the elderly. American scholars have found that systolic and diastolic blood pressure in winter are 12 millimeters and 5.5 millimeters of mercury higher than in summer, respectively. Therefore, when the weather cools down and the temperature drops, blood pressure measurements should be combined and the type or dosage of antihypertensive drugs should be appropriately increased under the guidance of a doctor.

2.Does the height of the cuffs affect the measurement results? The electronic blood pressure monitor product description states: The cuff is placed at the heart level for measurement. Why do electronic blood pressure monitors require strict measurement positions?

Answer: The height of the cuff should be at the same level as the heart. If the cuff position is too high, the measured blood pressure value will be lower; If the cuff position is too low, the measured blood pressure value will be higher. In addition, when measuring blood pressure, it is best for the subject to sit in a sitting position, lean their back against the back of the chair, expose their left upper arm, and wrap a cuff around it for measurement.

3.What should I do if the blood pressure measured by myself is inconsistent with that measured by the hospital? When using an electronic blood pressure monitor at home, the systolic blood pressure is only 135 millimeters of mercury, but when going to the hospital for a physical examination, the blood pressure is 140 millimeters of mercury. Is the electronic blood pressure monitor inaccurate? Does this situation really count as hypertension?

Answer: In the 2010 Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension, it was pointed out that using an upper arm fully automatic or semi-automatic electronic blood pressure monitor that meets relevant standards, the self measured blood pressure at home is 135/85 mmHg, which is equivalent to clinic blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg. Therefore, having blood pressure measured multiple times at home at 135 millimeters of mercury is also considered high blood pressure.

4.Why is it recommended to take the average value for electronic blood pressure monitors?

Answer: The blood pressure of a normal person reaches its peak from 8-10 am and 4-6 pm, and decreases by more than 10% at night compared to during the day. So, the blood pressure at a certain moment cannot represent the overall blood pressure level. It is recommended to take the average of multiple measurements as a reference value for blood pressure levels. Alternatively, choose an electronic blood pressure monitor with memory function to overcome the errors caused by the aforementioned issues. Some arm style blood pressure monitors have multiple memory functions, making it easy to calculate the average value. At the same time as recording blood pressure values, the measurement date, time, location, and activity should also be recorded for reference by oneself and the doctor.