Experts guide how to use electronic blood pressure monitor accurately

In recent years, with the popularity of electronic blood pressure monitors, self-testing of blood pressure at home has attracted more and more attention. Self-measurement of blood pressure is convenient, easy, and cheap. Patients can measure it at any time, understand their blood pressure in a timely manner, improve treatment compliance, and avoid high blood pressure measurements caused by mental stress. Although electronic blood pressure monitors have many benefits, they will inevitably encounter many problems during use. We have collected some frequently asked questions and provided answers for readers.

1. Is the electronic blood pressure monitor affected by seasons? When using an electronic sphygmomanometer, the blood pressure is normal when measured in summer, but high when measured in winter. Will the accuracy of the electronic sphygmomanometer be affected by temperature?

Answer: It is not the electronic blood pressure monitor that is affected by the seasons, but the human blood pressure that is affected by the seasons. Blood pressure will decrease slightly in summer and increase significantly in winter, especially in the elderly. American scholars have found that systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are 12 mm Hg and 5.5 mm Hg respectively higher in winter than in summer. Therefore, when the weather gets cooler and the temperature drops, the type or dose of antihypertensive drugs should be appropriately increased under the guidance of a doctor based on blood pressure measurements.

2. Does the cuff height affect the measurement results? The product description of the electronic blood pressure monitor reads: Place the cuff at the level of the heart for measurement. Why do electronic blood pressure monitors have strict requirements on measurement locations?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 low; if the cuff position is too low, the measured blood pressure value will be high. In addition, when measuring blood pressure, it is best for the subject to sit in a sitting position with his back leaning against the back of the chair, and then wrap the cuff around his bare left upper arm for measurement.

3. What should I do if the self-measured blood pressure is inconsistent with the blood pressure measured by the hospital? When using electronic blood pressure measurement at home, the systolic blood pressure was only 135 mmHg, but when I went to the hospital for a physical examination, the blood pressure was 140 mmHg. Is the electronic blood pressure monitor inaccurate? Is this considered high blood pressure?

Answer: The 2010 "China Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension" pointed out that using an upper-arm fully automatic or semi-automatic electronic sphygmomanometer that meets relevant standards, a home self-measured blood pressure of 135/85 mmHg is equivalent to a clinic blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg. Therefore, a blood pressure of 135 mm Hg measured multiple times at home is considered high blood pressure.

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

Answer: A normal person's blood pressure reaches its peak between 8-10 am and 4-6 pm. At night, the blood pressure drops by more than 10% compared with the daytime level. Therefore, 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. Or choose an electronic blood pressure monitor with memory function to overcome the errors caused by the above problems. Some arm blood pressure monitors have multiple memory functions to facilitate calculation of average values. While recording the blood pressure value, you should also record the date, time, location and activity of the measurement for your own and your doctor's reference.