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What exactly do Blood Pressure Monitors do?

Simply put, every time your heart beats, oxygenated blood is pumped to the organs and tissues of your body through pipe like structures known as arteries. Blood pressure monitors measure the force that is exerted on the walls of these tiny hoses every time that the heart contracts. This is known as your blood pressure.

Whilst blood pressure is essential in ensuring the effective functioning of the body, when the pressure elevates too high it becomes a threat to a person's health. It is estimated that over 40 million people in the USA alone suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension as it is medically termed. The precise causes are difficult to determine. Factors such as age, weight, sex, genetics, and salt intake all play a role in susceptibility as do stress and complications such as diabetes and kidney disease. The good news is that although there is as of yet no cure for high blood pressure, once diagnosed it is usually easily treated and controlled.

Effective treatment include changes in diet and lifestyle, reduced sodium consumption, herbal medication and complimentary therapies such as acupuncture and ayurvedic medicine. In extreme cases, it may be necessary for individuals to begin taking a combination of prescribed high blood pressure medication including diuretics, CNS depressants and vasodilators.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is low blood pressure or hypotension. While medical experts are in agreement that lower blood pressure levels are definitely healthier than high ones, when blood pressure drops too low it can result in unpleasant side effects. These include dizziness, fatigue, nausea and poor circulation. If blood pressure drops below levels of 90 mmHg and 60 mmHg diastolic such as in the case of a heart attack, the body will react by going into shock. If left untreated, this will eventually lead to a coma, followed by death.

The best way in which to keep track of blood pressure levels is through the use of a cuff or sphygmomanometer. Due to its proven accuracy, this type of blood pressure monitor is still often used by medical professionals. A sphygmomanometer measures blood pressure levels through the use of a d ring cuff and a stethoscope which records the sound that the blood makes as it is pumped into the artery in the upper arm.

Other popular types of blood pressure monitors include aneroid, digital, wrist and finger blood pressure monitors. Aneroid monitors measure blood pressure levels through the use of an extremely sensitive pressure spring, whilst digital ones rely on inbuilt incredibly sensitive computer chips. Finally, wrist and finger blood pressure monitors are the perfect portable alternative for those suffering from arthritis or a similar condition which makes the use of traditional arm cuffs painful and impractical.

Ann Knight

For treatment relating to low blood pressure please visit Guide4Living.

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