Let`s check it out! What are the pros and cons of the finger blood pressure monitor?
It looks very appealing and is the latest in blood pressure monitoring technology. If you are thinking of buying one for your family for the convenience it affords, first read this report to see if you will really benefit from this device. There are people who like to keep it available for friends and family so that they too can check their blood pressure when they visit.
The positives or pros of a finger blood pressure monitor are it`s light weight, it`s mercury-free mechanism and it`s ease of use. It is a device that has a finger compartment with a cuff inside that inflates to enclose the finger. This all happens automatically at the press of a button.
Because of it`s lightweight and size, you can carry it around, making it a convenient device for reading blood pressure regularly.
Quality, Safety and Performance Standards
What does the MDA (Medical Device Agency) have to say about the accuracy of a finger blood pressure monitor? Well first of all, who are the MDA?
They are a watchdog institute in Britain that uphold the quality, safety and performance of medical devices. This is the introduction to a directive in the year 2000 by this watchdog agency :
The Medical Devices Agency helps safeguard public health by working with users, manufacturers and lawmakers to ensure that medical devices meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and performance and that they comply with the relevant Directives of the European Union. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that medical devices achieve their fullest potential to help healthcare professionals give patients and other users the high standard of care they have a right to expect.
The Medical Devices Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Health
In their chart they said the finger blood pressure monitor was originally designed for home use and may not be suitable for all patients. As far as hygiene goes, they noted that because some devices cannot be washed, resulting in contamination, they were less than ideal for use, making them a health risk. But this is also true of some wrist monitors too. Users would need to wash hands and wrists before using these devices to reduce the risk of bacteria building up.
Another drawback when choosing them is that people with very thin fingers or cold fingers may not be able to use them. Keep this in mind if you are thinking of buying one.
The Mercury Sphygmomanometer and Aneroid Sphygmomanometer are said to be the best for accuracy but one contains the toxic substance, mercury, and the other is not so easy to use. It can be fiddly at first when your not used to positioning the arm cuff, using the stethoscope, inflating the bulb and watching the pressure gauge scale. Never-the-less, it is worth learning to use them for their accuracy alone. When you get used to it you will find it`s child`s play!
Most doctors will advise you to use an upper arm monitor if you are going to monitor you blood pressure at home. They give more accurate results if used properly.
I hope I have helped you weed out all the unnecessary jargon and hype, making it easier for you to choose the right monitor for yourself. The main thing is that it can help you take control of your health.
Good health to you!
When is the best time to take your blood pressure? Before you get up out of bed in the morning, before you take tea, or breakfast or even before you dress, you should take your pressure. If you smoke, try to give up. And until then do not smoke before you take your blood pressure.
Your doctor may require extra monitoring throughout the day. If so, he will advise you, but normally the morning reading will be sufficient. Try and monitor at the same time each morning, and doing it every morning will help you get into a routine so you are less likely to forget.
Quality, Safety and Performance Standards
The Mercury Sphygmomanometer and 
