Controlling blood pressure levels is necessary for all people. This is especially important for older people. Pathologies of the heart and blood vessels are one of the main causes of mortality.
The main device for determining pressure is a tonometer. The picture shows a model of a mechanical apparatus. It requires good hearing, vision and effort in measuring blood pressure.
Mechanical models have long been replaced by more modern automatic versions
A very convenient model is a wrist tonometer. It allows you to quickly obtain data without anyone's help. A rating of wrist tonometers can help with this.
The principle of operation of tonometers on the wrist
The principle of operation of the wrist tonometer is similar to other models. A special air cuff is used to compress the area of the artery. Blood flow increases the pressure inside the cuff. A special microprocessor detects fluctuations in the resulting pressure and displays the result on the screen. The picture shows how easy it is to use.
Simple wrist pressure measurement
Main functions of tonometers:
- Determination of blood pressure level;
- Pulse rate determination.
Some models may have additional features that make using the device easier:
- combination of mechanical and automatic regulation;
- presence of memory;
- intelligent assistance and voice notification;
- setting the clock, date or alarm;
- indicators of measurement accuracy.
High accuracy of indicators is achieved due to the super sensitivity of the microprocessor, because measurements take place in the region of the thin radial artery.
Inaccuracy may arise for the following reasons:
- Lack of an important state of human rest;
- Measurement in a standing position;
- Movement during the time of measurement;
- Presence of clothing or jewelry between the hand and the tonometer;
- Strong bending or lowering of the arm.
The picture shows the correct way to measure blood pressure using a wrist tonometer.
The main condition is to take a comfortable sitting position and relax
The device should be placed on the left hand, which is then brought to the chest in the area of the heart. The time for determining blood pressure is on average 30 seconds. Once the results are displayed on the screen, you can remove the cuff.
Advantages and disadvantages
Wrist models have a number of advantages:
- Light weight and small size;
- Can be carried with you;
- High accuracy of results;
- Ability to record and compare results.
The disadvantages of wrist devices include:
- The small size of the cuff makes it difficult for overweight people to use such models;
- Data may be inaccurate due to thinning of blood vessels in old age;
- Dependence of data accuracy on weather conditions.
The most accurate blood pressure monitor? Is it necessary?
No matter how criminal it may sound, there is no point in chasing the “most accurate blood pressure monitor.”
Firstly, 95% of measurement errors are caused by non-compliance with the rules of the measurement itself.
To ensure the tonometer is accurate:
Calm, just calm! Measure your blood pressure while sitting, with your hand lying on the table at heart level, do not move, do not speak, after physical activity - catch your breath and relax, after stress - calm down as much as possible. The size of the cuff should correspond to the circumference of the arm. For obese people they produce special cuffs; you may have to purchase one separately.
The cuff should fit snugly and evenly around the arm; a maximum of 1 finger can fit under it. The distance from the edge of the cuff to the bend of the elbow is 1 - 2 cm (usually it is indicated on the cuff and these instructions must be followed).
Repeated measurement of blood pressure, if you doubt the accuracy of this, is permissible only after 10 - 15 minutes, the vessels need to rest.
Morning pressure is measured before breakfast and taking medications. Evening - before going to bed.
Secondly, the permissible error of the tonometer is 3 – 5 mm. rt. Art. Agree, 138 and 141 - the difference is not fundamental, although formally the first value is still within the normal range, and the second is no longer.
See also:
- Hypertension in old age
- How to choose a glucometer?
- Ischemic cerebral stroke: symptoms, prognosis, treatment
Third, few people are actually interested in abstract meanings. When it comes to health, any number is assessed holistically. For a hypotensive young man who is able to pass exams with a pressure of 90/60, the same 138 is almost a disaster, but for an elderly man it may well be the target value (it is better to forget the concept of “working pressure” as soon as possible).
And finally, there is such a thing as checking a tonometer. In specialized service centers, its accuracy is measured with special instruments, and if necessary, the device is calibrated. For a home blood pressure monitor, it is enough to carry out verification once every 3 years; the list of places where this can be done is usually indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions or on its official website.
How are they good for older people?
In old age, the risk of serious heart pathologies increases. It is for this reason that they so need to monitor their blood pressure levels. For older people, it is important that this process is quick and simple. Manufacturers of tonometers take into account the needs of different age groups and produce more and more convenient and improved models of devices.
At this age, people may experience some difficulties:
- Poor eyesight;
- Pain in the arms;
- Limitation of physical activity;
- Lack of outside assistance at the time of measurement.
A wrist tonometer solves all these problems. Ease and ease of use make such models very popular.
Additional features
Today, many manufacturers produce products that, in addition to their basic function - measuring blood pressure - have additional capabilities. This, of course, slightly increases their cost, so before you overpay, you should think about whether these functions will be useful or whether this is just another marketing ploy.
Arrhythmia sensor
This function is very important as it helps to identify heart rhythm disturbances. Abnormal heartbeat is displayed on the tonometer display with a special icon. In this case, the person needs to measure blood pressure several more times at intervals of half an hour. The appearance of such an icon indicates the presence of pathology in the cardiovascular system and serves as a reason to contact a cardiologist. If a person already has a history of heart rhythm disturbances, it is recommended to choose a tonometer equipped with an intelligent pressure measurement function.
Smart Dimension
For diagnosed heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), devices with this function are the best option. Intelligent measurement has different designations from different manufacturers: MAM, Intellisense. For people who have not been diagnosed with pathologies associated with heart rhythm disturbances, it is not advisable to buy such devices.
Hypertension indicator (morning monitoring)
According to research, the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other pathologies of the cardiovascular system increases in the morning hours. If a person has a history of hypertension and is not monitoring, they will find this additional feature very helpful.
Motion Sensor
This function displays human movements on the tonometer screen during blood pressure measurement in the form of a special signal. If a person knows and follows the rules for measuring blood pressure (do not talk, do not move), then this additional feature of the device is unlikely to be useful to him.
Voice accompaniment
This additional equipment of the tonometer is vital for those who have vision problems. With this function, an elderly person will be able to take measurements without assistance.
Wireless Sync
Synchronization with a smartphone or computer. Special applications are convenient because with their help you can record all measurements, eliminating the need to keep a diary. This is necessary when a person is observed by a specialist and records daily blood pressure measurements, noting any deviations from the norm. The problem is that few older people are confident PC or smartphone users, so whether or not to pay extra for this feature is up to you.
When choosing a device to measure blood pressure for an elderly person, you need to pay attention not only to its functionality and technical characteristics, but also to its convenience. Are the numbers clearly visible, is it convenient to apply the cuff, is there an error correction for arrhythmia, what are the capabilities of the device to operate from the electrical network, etc.
It is recommended to purchase tonometers in specialized stores, departments or pharmacies, where you can obtain a passport with detailed information and characteristics of the model, as well as a warranty card. It is worth giving preference to products from manufacturers who have been known on the market in this segment for a long time and have earned the trust of consumers for the high quality of their products.
How to choose
How to choose a tonometer for the wrist, which is better after 50 years? A large assortment of different models makes choosing difficult. Before purchasing, you need to consider several models and pay attention to the most necessary details.
When purchasing a wrist blood pressure monitor for the elderly, you need to consider the following points:
- The set of functions must match your needs. For older people, sound signals, voice alerts, large numbers, recording measurements into the device’s memory, diagnosing arrhythmia, etc. will be very useful;
- The size of the cuff is important if the arm size is too large;
- The warranty period must be at least 5 years;
- Replacing batteries should not be difficult;
- Accuracy must be age appropriate; not all wrist models are suitable for people over 50;
- The cost of the device depends on the set of functions it contains. Typically, wrist blood pressure monitors that can be used by older people are not cheap.
The product passport indicates age restrictions. It is necessary to carefully study all the technical characteristics of the models in the process of choosing a tonometer on the wrist for an elderly person.
Arterial hypertension
One of the most common pathologies today is arterial hypertension . In recent years, this disease has significantly “rejuvenated”, so regular blood pressure monitoring is necessary for everyone, but it is especially important in old age, because instability of blood pressure occurs, as a rule, in people after the age of 55-60 years, since by these years It’s rare that anyone is left without a “bouquet of sores.” And given the fact that arterial hypertension is often asymptomatic, it can strike at the most unexpected moment. Therefore, it is important to always be on alert.
A tonometer is used to measure blood pressure . Until recently, only mechanical devices were available for this purpose, requiring good hearing, vision and certain skills. Using such a device on your own is not easy for young people, let alone the elderly. Therefore, today manufacturers offer various models of automatic tonometers that will carry out the measurement process themselves. What should you pay attention to when choosing a device?
Precision and medical effectiveness
Of course, one of the main qualities that a tonometer should have is accuracy , because only in this case will the doctor be able to confidently make the correct diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. It is better to opt for medical products that have a registration certificate, verification, and with proven medical effectiveness. Electronic blood pressure monitors from the Swiss brand B.Well not only have all the registration documents, but are also tested and approved by experts in the field of heart health - the Russian Society of Cardiology.
Please note that the device for the elderly has a model with an arrhythmia indicator, which will help identify heart rhythm disturbances at an early stage.
Convenience and comfort of measurement
The next parameter for choosing a tonometer would be the convenience and comfort of the measurement procedure. It will be difficult for a person, especially an elderly person, to regularly check their blood pressure if the procedure is painful or if it is uncomfortable for some reason.
- All B.Well tonometers are equipped with a conical cuff that follows the shape of the hand and ensures accuracy and comfort. Please note that the ML cuff (22-42 cm) is suitable for people of any size.
- The devices have a large display with large numbers - which is very important for older people, because many have vision problems.
- B.Well brand tonometers are equipped with Intellect Classic and Intellect Active technologies, which regulate air inflation in the cuff to prevent unnecessary compression of the sensitive vessels of an elderly person.
- The presence of an adapter will allow you to forget about buying and changing batteries
Model: simplicity, convenience, affordability
For example, the B.Well PRO-35 automatic blood pressure monitor would be an excellent choice. This is a high-quality and affordable device, very easy to operate.
There are only 2 buttons on the body: a large button to turn on/start and turn off the device and a small button (M) for memory. By the way, PRO-35 stores the last 30 measurements in memory. This way you can keep an electronic diary of pressure and track its dynamics.
Near the display on the left of the instrument panel there is a color scale that will help you figure out what your pressure level is for this measurement: normal, elevated or very high. In addition, the device will show you not only blood pressure results, but also pulse. If the device detects an irregular heart rhythm, an arrhythmia icon will appear on the display.
Model: a modern device always with you
If you need a compact device, for example, if you often go somewhere or spend a lot of time in the country, then, of course, a wrist tonometer is ideal. However, it is extremely important to make sure that the elderly person does not have problems with peripheral circulation, that is, there are no problems with the vessels in the wrist, since otherwise the device will show incorrect results. If there are no contraindications, then it is better to choose a device with gentle injection B.Well MED-57.
This device, despite its compactness, also has a large backlit display, thanks to which you can easily measure pressure at any time. The wrist tonometer is also equipped with a memory for 30 measurements, a color pressure level scale and an arrhythmia indicator.
Model: Intelligent and gentle measurement
And if advanced technologies are important to you and you want to be armed with the latest technology, then you should pay attention to the MED-55 automatic tonometer, which provides improved measurement accuracy.
Since the correctness of the result is influenced by many factors, such as fatigue, anxiety, the presence of arrhythmia, doctors recommend measuring the pressure 3 times and calculating the average value. The MED-55 tonometer is equipped with the 3chek function, which will independently take 3 consecutive measurements and calculate the average value using a special algorithm. This will allow you to get the most accurate result. In this model, you can choose which measurement mode is more convenient for you: with triple measurement or with single measurement. You can switch the mode on the side of the device panel.
The traffic light display will help you immediately understand what your blood pressure level is: after the procedure, when the result is displayed, the display will turn red, yellow or green.
This model has another nice detail - Intellect Active technology, which allows you to carry out the procedure carefully and quickly. The measurement is carried out at the stage of pumping air into the cuff, adapting to each user and selecting the individual level of inflation of the cuff.
MED-55 has a memory for 60 measurements for 2 users with date and time. That is, 2 people can keep their own individual pressure diaries at once. In addition, there is a special “guest mode” in which the result will not be saved. It is convenient if you let someone else measure your blood pressure.
This model also has a function to control the correct fixation of the cuff, because the accuracy of the result depends on the correct location of the cuff on the arm. If the cuff is not fixed correctly, the device will notify you of an error.
We hope our article helped you make your choice and choose the optimal model for yourself. Be healthy with B.Well!
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Rating of the best models of wrist blood pressure monitors
Experts in the store, your doctor, or consumer reviews can help you choose a device.
Which model of wrist blood pressure monitor is best used for people over 50 years of age?
TONOMETER NISSEI WS 1011
The most popular model from a famous manufacturer from Japan. Can be used both in hospitals and at home. The picture below shows that the device has a comfortable strap and a large screen, which is very important for older people.
Technical data:
- Device type – automatic
- Type of adjustment - touch
- Pulse detection – yes
- Measurement range – 40-250 mmHg
- Deviation limit – 3 mmHg
- Cuff circumference – 12.5 – 22.5 cm
- Power type – battery + batteries
- Memory capacity – 60 records
- Arrhythmia indicator – yes
- Weight – 116 grams
- Air inflation and deflation – automatic
Advantages:
- Small size;
- One touch control;
- Sound notification of all actions;
- Large memory capacity;
- There are no age restrictions.
A large list of advantages and excellent technical capabilities make this device the most popular for older people. The device is relatively inexpensive. The price for this device ranges from 2500 to 3000 rubles.
TONOMETER MICROLIFE BP W100
This device is a wrist tonometer with the highest accuracy class. No other similar device has ever shown such results. It is also a device that has absolutely no age restrictions. The picture shows the original design of the model.
Technical specifications:
- Device type – automatic
- Adjustment – touch
- Pulse measurement - yes
- Measurement interval – 30-280 mmHg
- Norm of deviations – 3 mmHg
- Cuff circumference – 13.5 – 21.5 cm
- Cuff type - batteries and accumulator
- Memory capacity – 200 records
- Arrhythmia indicator – yes
- Air inflation and deflation – automatic
- Weight – 130 grams
Pros:
- Compactness;
- Fuzzy Logic system control;
- Informative display;
- Largest memory size;
- Suitable for all ages.
A very popular model. Has many advantages. Convenient design and control. The cost of such a device can range from 2700 to 3200 rubles.
TONOMETER OMRON R5 Prestige
Tonometer from one of the most famous Japanese manufacturers. It comes with many useful additional features. The picture shows that the device has a similar design to other models from this manufacturer.
Specifications:
- Device type – automatic
- Control – touch
- Pulse measurement – available
- Measurement interval – 40-260 mmHg
- Deviation range – 3 mmHg
- Cuff circumference – 14 – 22 cm
- Type of power - batteries
- Memory capacity – 90 records
- Arrhythmia indicator – yes
- Air inflation and deflation – automatic
- Weight – 140 grams
Advantages:
- Memory for two users;
- Intellisense technology management;
- Informative display;
- adjusting the movement and correct fixation of the cuff;
- Suitable for older people.
The device itself regulates the accuracy of the results. If a significant error occurs, it automatically takes additional measurements. The device is relatively expensive. The cost of the device can range from 5,700 to 7,000 rubles.
Correct pressure measurement
Blood pressure should only be measured in a calm state. An hour before the procedure, you should not smoke, eat a lot of fatty foods, or be nervous. Fifteen minutes before the measurement, you need to sit down, rest, relax, and catch your breath. It is forbidden to cross your legs or take an uncomfortable position. You should sit down, unfasten the clothes that are constricting your body, and place your feet on the floor. The measurement itself is performed using the following algorithm:
- the hand is placed so that it is located approximately at the level of the middle of the chest;
- put the cuff on the shoulder, fix it not very tightly (so that a finger fits between it and the arm);
- turn on the device;
- Upon completion of the measurement, the monitor will display information about the value of systolic and diastolic pressure, as well as pulse rate.
If an automatic device is used for measurement, then after putting on the cuff, air must be pumped into it independently. This is done by squeezing and unclenching a rubber bulb. Pressures are measured twice on the same arm. If the difference is more than five mmHg. Art., then use the other limb. The parameters on the left and right hands should not differ by 10 mmHg. Art. and more.
