Inexpensive Blood Pressure Kits

 
Many blood pressure kits costing $10 or less are cheaply made and highly inaccurate. A&D Medical/Lifesource, Accu-Chek, Bayer are all good brands. Good home blood pressure kits start around $25 and range anywhere between $25 and $200. There are three different types of blood pressure kits.

• Mercury Sphygmomanometer (Manual Blood Pressure Kit)
• Aneroid Equipment (Manual Blood Pressure Kit)
• Automatic Equipment (Digital Blood Pressure Kit)

(Digital blood pressure kits are easier to use and manual blood pressure kits are more accurate)

Order A Manual Blood Pressure Kit
Order A Digital Blood Pressure Kit

Types of Blood Pressure Kits

Mercury Sphygmomanometer - This has always been regarded as the standard for blood pressure measurement, but this is likely to change in the near future. The mercury sphygmomanometer is durable, easy to read and doesn’t require readjustment. It has a simple mechanism and works by gravity to give consistent, accurate readings. It has a long, tubular gauge, usually made of plastic to prevent breakage. It's not often recommended for home use due to the hazards of mercury.

Disadvantages include:

• May be bulky to carry
• Mercury spills can be hazardous
• Must be kept upright on a flat surface during measurement; the gauge must be read at eye level for accuracy
• May not work well for the hearing or visually impaired or for those unable to perform the hand movement needed to squeeze the bulb and inflate the cuff

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Aneroid Equipment - This is often inexpensive, lightweight and more portable than mercury sphygmomanometers. The aneroid gauge will work in any position if the reader is able to view it directly. Some models have an easy-to-read, extra large gauge; D-ring cuff for one-handed application; built-in or attached stethoscope; and a self-bleeding deflation valve for increased reading accuracy.

Disadvantages include:

• Has a delicate and complicated mechanism
• Less accurate than mercury sphygmomanometers and requires calibrating at least once a year or when dropped or bumped
• Can be easily damaged without the user’s knowledge and requires factory repair and readjustment
• Gauge can be clumsy to position, and without a D-ring cuff can be difficult to apply by oneself
• May not work well for the hearing or visually impaired or for those unable to perform the hand movement needed to squeeze the bulb and inflate the cuff

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Automatic Equipment - This is contained in one unit, so it's easier to handle than systems with a separate gauge and stethoscope. It’s easy to use, minimizes human error and is good for people with hearing or vision loss. Most units are very portable and have a D-ring cuff for one-handed application. The cuff may fit around the wrist or arm. More expensive models have automatic inflation and deflation systems; large, easy-to-read digital display and error indicator; reading printouts; and built-in pulse (heart rate) measurement.

Disadvantages include:

• Complex, fragile and sensitive mechanism
• Must be checked for accuracy at regular intervals
• Even the most accurate devices don’t give accurate readings on certain people
• Body movements may influence accuracy
• Can be expensive, requires batteries and an AC adapter for large arm cuffs and may require factory repair and readjustment when faulty
• Requires careful cuff placement and arm positioning for accurate operation, especially the wrist cuff model. (Some models are designed for use on only the right or left arm.)
• Large cuffs may be relatively expensive or difficult to obtain.

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WARNING: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS A SILENT KILLER!
(learn more here)

Check your blood pressure from the comfort of your own home.

Order A Blood Pressure Kit
Order A Digital Blood Pressure Kit



Portions of this information are from

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=576

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.