Tonometer becomes the same indispensable component of a first-aid kit as a thermometer. Teenage hypotension, pregnant or age-related hypertension, monitoring the well-being of weather-dependent people, or monitoring the effects of drugs - there are many cases where pressure testing cannot be dispensed with. What models to give preference? Long-lasting and familiar mechanical or ultramodern, electronic with many additional features?
Despite the fact that each new model of an electronic blood pressure monitor is more and more like a mini computer, mechanical sphygmomanometers are still popular. They are in demand in medical institutions, where there is no room for error, loved by the elderly, who are afraid of sophisticated technology. Mechanics have a number of advantages over electronics, especially if we consider a mechanical tonometer from the rating of the best.
Popular model of mechanical blood pressure monitor (Little Doctor LD-60)
Advantages of mechanical tonometers
- Availability compared to automatic models. The price of mechanical sphygmomanometers is several times lower than for electronic counterparts. The cost varies in the range of 500 - 5000 rubles, depending on the prestige of the manufacturer plus the quality of the materials (rubber or latex, nylon or cotton, stainless steel, chrome-plated).
- Simplicity, clarity in management. They are sold in city pharmacies or online stores, the rules of use for all models of any manufacturer are the same.
- High accuracy plus stability of the result. After mercury sphygmomanometers, mechanical ones are in second place in terms of stability and accuracy of the issued values.
- Classic design. The devices produced now are almost the same as a hundred years ago.
Old tonometer model
- Durability. All parts are simple, durable, the device will last more than a dozen years.
- Possibility of repair, low cost of any parts. Even if some part is worn out, it can be repaired or bought to replace a new one. Pressure gauge, cuff, supercharger or phonendoscope - almost all brands are subject to repair.
- Independent of batteries or mains. Full autonomy, you can measure blood pressure in the road, transport or in the country - health is always under control. And the values will not change if the battery starts to run out.
- Light weight and dimensions. It is convenient to carry the device, small in weight and size, even in an average women's bag, and it will enter the travel backpack with ease.
There are also disadvantages:
- Complexity of management if the user is very elderly.
- There are fuzzy divisions, small numbers, if a person is visually impaired.
Pale division model
Clear Pressure Gauge
A tonometer for home use will be indispensable, if therapy is prescribed to normalize blood pressure, it is necessary to regulate and verify its effectiveness in a timely manner. You can not do without a sphygmomanometer if a person has a headache to determine whether increased or decreased pressure provoked an attack. Raising blood pressure by only 5 units will lead to a headache, although such a difference in health is not critical. At high pressure, antispasmodics or special drugs that lower blood pressure will be needed, while at low pressure, completely different drugs, for example, based on caffeine, are needed.Systematic monitoring of blood pressure is impossible without a sphygmomanometer if a person monitors his health or belongs to certain categories of patients (cores, diabetics, hypertension).
The structure of a mechanical tonometer
Mechanical blood pressure monitor (CS-105 Medica)
The structure of any sphygmomanometer is almost the same: cuffs, manometer, supercharger. Each modification has differences, it can be a design (slightly), various materials or approaches to the connections of the elements of the device. For example, the mechanical tonometer is still the best plus the most accurate - with a mercury pressure meter, they are used to calibrate and check mechanical and electronic varieties. But mechanical products are considered more accurate, stable - their readings are unchanged, while in an automatic or semi-automatic model, the result may change if the battery is dead or when the reading unit breaks.
Model with mercury manometer
Varieties of mechanical blood pressure monitors
Sphygmomanometers are divided by the type of equipment that records the value of blood pressure (mercury, mechanical, electronic manometer). Models differ in size and type of cuff. There are models in which the phonendoscope is sewn into the cuff, there is a retaining ring made of cotton or nylon of different widths and different lengths (for children and adults hands, for full people). Among the models that measure on the finger, on the hand, thigh or shoulder, the most accurate and most convenient are shoulder modifications.
Two types of hoses can be distinguished - with one or two hoses, at the end of which there is a pressure gauge plus a supercharger. On single-hose models, the supercharger is connected to the hose. The stethoscope can be separately or sewn directly into the cuff. The simplest type of stethoscope with a membrane one-sided head is used.
Single Hose Model (Ri-San (Riester) 141)
Model with two hoses plus a phonendoscope
The discharge pump, usually rubber, has a metal pressure release valve and a dust screen.
Pressure gauge combined with a pear
Cuffs are of various widths (they are selected according to the diameter of the arms of the most complete member of the family), from various materials (nylon, cotton), with additional devices that facilitate independent measurement of blood pressure (bracket or the like).
By accuracy, mechanical sphygmomanometers are divided depending on the difference in readings in comparison with a mercury reference manometer. When choosing a device, it is worth giving preference to one in which the accuracy class is A or B (according to the BHS protocol) or corresponding to the AAMI standard.
Instructions for use
Sphygmomanometer with shoulder fixation
The method of using a sphygmomanometer with shoulder fixation:
- Fastening the cuff over the elbow.
- Installing the head of a stethoscope at the site of the approach of the artery to the skin.
- Pumping air into the cuff with a pear.
- After the artery is pinched with a filled cuff, you need to start releasing air at a speed of 2-3 ml / sec.
- The blood flow will be restored, it is necessary to fix it, when the first pulse beat appears, at what value on the manometer.
- Bleed further, fix the second value - at which the pulsation ceases.
In order for the measurement to pass correctly, it is advisable to sit in a calm state for about 10 minutes before the measurement. There should be silence around, no unnecessary conversations or movements.
Hands should be bent, in a free position (the elbow is bent at an angle of about 45 °). Blood pressure is measured on both hands, a greater value is taken for the fact, but if the difference between the hands is not more than 15 mmHg.
Criteria for the selection of mechanical sphygmomanometers
To choose mechanical tonometers for the home, which company is better and which will last more than a dozen years, it is enough to focus on a number of criteria:
- Accuracy. The certificate of conformity plus the actual measurement error is the minimum that the manufacturer must give. To check, to check independently is expensive, long, and the deviation from the correct value should not exceed 3 mmHg. for blood pressure and 5 strokes for emergency.
- Speed of reading. Unlike automatic models, it is impossible to accelerate the process of obtaining results in mechanical devices, but the measurement itself lasts only a few minutes.
- Weight and dimensions. In terms of dimensions or weight, the mechanical model is only slightly smaller than the automatic one.
- Price. The cost of classic appliances is several times lower than modern ones.
- Convenience. There is no ambiguity - someone likes to pump up a vacuum, listen to the heartbeat and take readings, while someone likes to click on the buttons and get dozens of values at a time.
- Clear scale, large numbers. This is realized using a larger gauge diameter, large divisions and numbers.
Clear and Large Icon Model (Little Doctor LD-100)
Mechanical blood pressure monitor: ranking of the top 10 models
| No. p / p | Title | Model Features | Prices (in rubles) |
| 1 | Little Doctor LD-71 | Very light (328 g). With dust protection. The pressure gauge is large, the marking is clear, the numbers are large. The phonendoscope is sensitive, loud. the error is below ± 4 mm Hg. | From 1600 |
| 2 | Little Doctor LD-81 | Metal needle valve, cuff 26 cm, easy to fix. Nice design, a pleasant pear for a hand, supercharger and pressure gauge hoses are conveniently located. | From 1120 |
| 3 | Little Doctor LD-100 | Large clear dial on the manometer. There is a capacity for the cuff. Nice design, quality materials. Accurate. Loud, sensitive membrane, rubber hoses are elastic, durable. | From 1370 |
| 4 | Microlife BP AG 1–40
| Large diameter gauge, wide cuff (up to 40 cm girth diameter). Pear and pressure gauge together. | From 1400 |
| 5 | Ri-San (Riester) 141 | Thoughtful, there are cuff sizes to choose from, there is a ring retainer on the cuff. Wear resistant parts, very durable. A little expensive.
| From 5950 |
| 6 | Microlife BP AG1 | Comfortable cuff, large pressure gauge, conveniently combined with a pear. The divisions are clearly visible, contrasting. The cuff does not rub, is put on and fixed easily. Very accurate pressure gauge, hand-operated supercharger. | From 1890 |
| 7 | CS Medica CS 107 | Clear marks and large numbers on the scale. There are 5 types of cuffs for any shoulder. Comfortable wide cuff. The phonendoscope is loud, built into the cuff. The pear is soft, with dust protection and an almost eternal starter. High accuracy. | From 750 |
| 8 | AND UA | Compact model with a handbag for the device, durable pressure gauge with a reinforced surface. 3 year warranty. | From 900 |
| 9 | Well WM-61 | Favorable combination of price and quality. Budget option, wear-resistant cuff, durable stethoscope, warranty. | From 700 |
| 10 | Well WM-63S | The cuff is tender, but is easily fixed by a metal ring. Accurate. Large numbers on the pressure gauge. A stethoscope is sewn into the cuff. The supercharger is latex, seamless, therefore very durable. |
A mechanical blood pressure monitor for the home is a very important and useful purchase, which will not only help to combat headaches and monitor your health in a timely manner, but maybe even save your life. Monitoring high blood pressure, which is now noticeably younger, will allow you to correctly, and most importantly in time, prevent stroke or heart attack.
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