How to Operate a Blood Pressure Machine at Home: Easy as 1-2-3

How to Operate a Blood Pressure Machine: Easy as 1-2-3

Quick Summary:

• Benefits of learning to use a blood pressure (BP) machine at home

• Types of BP machines: manual vs. digital

• Factors to consider when choosing a BP machine

• Pre-check tips for accurate BP readings

• Step-by-step guide for using manual and digital BP machines

• How home BP machines help with early detection and condition management

Learning how to operate a BP machine at home is ideal as it is not only time-saving but also convenient and relieves any anxiety you feel around a medical setting. Further, it helps with the early detection of any medical condition, giving you and your doctor the time to manage it accurately.

But how to use a blood pressure machine and which type is suitable for your specific needs? Keep reading to learn more!

Types of BP Machines and How to Choose The Right One

There are only two types of blood pressure machines you can use at home—a manual and a digital one. You can choose between the two based on your needs and wants. But how do you decide which one perfectly captures your demands?

Below are some factors to consider when choosing the right BP machine:

1. Price
Pricing can be one of the most significant deciding factors when purchasing a blood pressure machine. Home blood pressure machines come in different price ranges, but you should keep in mind that splurging a fortune in your home BP machine does not guarantee the best quality or most accuracy. So, go for the one that fits your budget best.

2. Size
When talking about the size of a BP machine, it generally means the size of the inflating rubber bladder that is tied to the arm during a BP reading. The size of this bladder is crucial for an accurate reading of your blood pressure because it may lead to a faulty reading if the cuff is too large or too small to fit on your arm. It’s always an ideal choice to get your home BP machine checked with your doctor to ensure its best accuracy.

3. Sound
With a manual BP machine, you should be able to hear the heartbeats loud and clear for accurate and correct blood pressure readings.

4. Display
Testing the display of your digital BP machine is necessary as all the vital information will be displayed if you choose a digital machine. Ensure the display screen is clear and check the convenience of the display when reading. If you choose a manual BP machine, ensure the pressure markings are displayed at your convenience.

What to Do Before Checking BP at Home with a Machine?

Once you have decided on the right kind of BP machine for your needs and wants, it’s time to check your blood pressure at home. But there are certain things to do before checking BP at home with a machine for accurate readings. Here are some points to keep in mind when getting ready to check your BP at home:

• Before taking your BP reading, wait for 30 minutes if you have consumed alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, or any other products containing these substances. Also, wait for 30 minutes after eating for accurate reading.

• Rest for at least five to six minutes before taking the reading. Avoid any interactions with anyone at all.

• It’s ideal to take the BP test at home after emptying your bladder fully.

• Take a comfortable seating position with uncrossed legs and some support for your back.

• Make sure your hand is elevated to the level of your heart and placed on a raised area like a desk.

• Place the cuff on your arm and tighten it. When you are tightening it, make sure to keep a distance of one finger between the cuff and your arm for accurate reading.

• The last thing to remember when placing the cuff on your hand is its placement. Make sure there’s a gap of at least an inch between the upper crease of your elbow and the cuff of the BP machine.

How to Operate BP Machine

How to check BP at home with a machine? That depends on the type of BP machine you have. A manual or aneroid machine works differently compared to a digital BP machine. Below are in-depth steps to guide you into using both aneroid and digital BP machine for accurate reading:

How to Use Aneroid (Manual) BP Machine

Step 1: Place the stethoscope’s earpieces in your ears
When placing the stethoscope's earpiece in your ears, make sure the earpieces are facing outwards towards your eyes. These earpieces are important as they help listen to your heartbeats when the cuff is inflated on your arms.

Step 2: Place the stethoscope’s disc on the elbow
Take the stethoscope disc and place it on the inside of your elbow. Do not press it too tightly or put unnecessary pressure on it to avoid inaccuracies in the BP reading.

Step 3: Squeeze the rubber bladder
Once you have properly placed the stethoscope earpieces in your ears and the disc on your inner elbow, squeeze the rubber bladder in a continuous rhythm. Don’t go too slow or too fast as that will affect the BP reading. Keep repeating the process till your meter reading is 30 to 40 points higher than the last systolic reading.

Step 4: Open the valve
After squeezing the rubber inflator, slowly open the valve to let out the air. Once the air is out, slowly deflate the cuff by two to three millimetres each second. Make sure to follow this process slowly as quickly deflating the cuff can also lead to faulty reading.

Step 5: Listen to the heartbeat
When deflating the cuff slowly, you will hear a heartbeat. Make a note of the reading when you hear this first heartbeat. This is your systolic pressure.

Step 6: Continue deflating the cuff
Continue deflating the cuff and noting the reading of your heartbeat at every rhythm. When you hear the last heartbeat in the earpiece of the stethoscope, it will be your diastolic pressure.

How to Use a Digital BP Machine

Unlike the aneroid BP machine, a digital BP machine is different to use. Below are the steps to follow if you want to learn how to use a digital BP machine:

Step 1: Turn on the power of the machine
Turn the power button on the digital BP machine on.

Step 2: Let the cuff inflate automatically
Once you turn the power on of the blood pressure machine, the cuff will automatically inflate. You can read the readings on the display once the cuff inflates.
The BP machine will automatically note the readings. Once the readings are noted, the cuff will automatically deflate. With a digital BP machine, you don’t have to do much manual work apart from checking the placement of the cuff.

Step 3: Look at the display to note the readings
Since all the work is done by the machine itself, all you have to do is take notes of the systolic and diastolic readings to get accurate information on your current blood pressure.

• The systolic reading is the reading of the highest pressure when your heart is pumping blood.

• Diastolic reading is the reading of the blood pressure in your arteries when your heart is in a resting stage.

How Home Blood Pressure Machines Help

Knowing how to operate a BP machine is extremely important as it can help you live a better lifestyle by understanding your current state. Here are some solid reasons why you should know how to check your BP at home with a machine:

1. Helps in Early Detection
Medical conditions related to high blood pressure are often overlooked as they do not come with drastic symptoms. However, one should know that high blood pressure creates a huge risk of developing a heart disease, getting a stroke, or having kidney problems if not detected in early stages.
Hence, it is essential to monitor your blood pressure regularly. When you have a BP machine at home, you can check your blood pressure whenever you need to. This helps your doctor detect potential issues early, giving you and your doctor a head start on managing them.

2. Gives Comfort and Convenience
Let's face it, doctor visits can be stressful. Taking your blood pressure at home eliminates the "white coat effect" – a temporary rise in blood pressure some people experience in clinical settings. Home readings provide a more accurate picture of your usual blood pressure.

3. Keeps a Track of Changes
Blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day. Taking readings at home lets you see a bigger picture of how your blood pressure behaves under different circumstances. This information is crucial for your doctor to make informed treatment decisions, and you gain a better understanding of your body and its reactions.

4. Manages Existing Conditions
Apart from early detection, knowing how to operate a BP machine at home can also help manage your existing health conditions. If you've already been diagnosed with hypertension or another condition that requires blood pressure monitoring, a home machine lets you closely track the effectiveness of your medications and lifestyle changes.

Bottom Line

Using a blood pressure machine at home is easy and incredibly beneficial. Make sure to bring your BP records to your doctor appointments to help track any significant changes. Got any tips or stories about using a BP machine at home? Share them in the comments below!

FAQs:

1. How long should I wait between two BP recordings?
Wait for at least three to five minutes before taking the second reading of your blood pressure. This way you allow the BP machine to reset for accurate results.

2. What is a normal or healthy blood pressure?
While blood pressure varies greatly among individuals and depends on their conditions and lifestyle, a reading under 120/80 mm Hg is considered a normal blood pressure range universally. However, each person's normal blood pressure range may differ depending on their weight, gender, age, medical conditions, and medications.

3. Is my BP machine accurate?
The best way to know if your BP machine is giving accurate readings is to get it checked by your doctor once every year.

4. Can I feel it if my blood pressure soars high?
You may feel dizzy, lightheaded, or heavy heart pounding if your blood pressure goes higher than the normal rate. If you feel like this at any point in time, consult your doctor immediately.

5. What does my blood pressure reading mean?
Ideally, a normal blood pressure is considered to be in the 120/80 range or lower than that. Anything higher than that may be an indication of high blood pressure or hypertension. It’s wise to consult your doctor if you notice any fluctuations in your BP readings.