Each person is incredibly important to monitor their own health. This is especially acute for the elderly. Many people keep tonometers at home, allowing them to measure pressure without going to the doctor. But how to check a tonometer if there is a suspicion of inaccuracy? This article will give tips on this.
Home blood pressure monitor
Electronic pressure measuring devices are very popular, because they do not require any special skills, are easy to use, and are quite inexpensive. Information about the pressure is obtained immediately and without difficulty, people of all age categories cope with it. Home blood pressure monitors can be either mechanical or electronic - and, contrary to beliefs, electronic blood pressure monitors are often more accurate than mechanical ones, and more convenient - pressure data is displayed on the screen immediately after measurement. However, as with any electronic device, they have crashes and malfunctions. So what to do about it?
How to check the tonometer for accuracy?
If there is a suspicion of inaccuracy of the tonometer, the first thing you need to make sure that it is used correctly. Very often, inadequately high or low pressure on the performance of the device can occur due to improper use. To avoid this, you need to check the charge level of the device. Make sure that the cuff is worn on the arm according to the instructions, and be calm during the measurement process.
Do not forget that it is worth taking measurements only when there is no distortion in your condition - before checking, do not drink alcohol, caffeine and tinin, nicotine. These products can increase or decrease blood pressure for a short time. In addition, random pressure drops are possible, so it is always worth checking the indicators some time after the first measurement.
The statistics collected on the basis of thousands of calls to service centers claim that the vast majority of problems with tonometers are solely their misuse, so you should always double-check the device by making a control measurement exactly according to the instructions.
The tonometer fails - what should I do?
If the device really shows inadequate numbers, although it is used according to the instructions and in a calm state, then it is worth checking.
The best place where you can check the tonometer is a clinic, hospital or pharmacy. Many of them have special devices that simulate pressure, which according to the given parameters will allow you to find the difference between the tonometer and the real indicators. This method is the best and most reliable, because specialists will check the device.
In addition, they can calibrate it or give advice on proper use. However, it is not always possible to go out and bring the tonometer to a pharmacy or clinic. Sometimes you need to act at home.
Reference tonometer
The most effective and easiest way to check the tonometer is to compare it with another similar device, the accuracy of which there is no doubt.
For this, it is necessary to measure the pressure with two instruments at once in order to avoid inaccuracies that arise over time. Next, you need to compare the performance of the two devices and take a few more measurements. Based on this, it will always be possible to understand in which direction the indicators are changing and whether they are the same.
This approach allows you to check the tonometer without much labor and effort, and the accuracy is quite high - you can find not only large deviations, but also record the smallest fluctuations. In addition, by visually inspecting both devices, you can find any problem in one of the components of the tonometer.
What to do if there is no second blood pressure monitor at hand?
If the reference tonometer, which can be used for verification, is not at hand, then the question of how to check a home tonometer becomes a problem. Some people try to independently count the heart rate by ear or to tap the rhythm of the heartbeat. Many believe that they can measure their pulse on their own, without the help of a tonometer. However, this approach is fundamentally wrong - an independent calculation of the heart rate is inaccurate and cannot be taken into account.
If the reference tonometer is neither in the house, nor at neighbors or acquaintances, it is imperative to contact a polyclinic, hospital or pharmacy. There is also an option: just call the service center of the device manufacturer and hand it over for calibration. Of course, this will take some time. But there are simply no other options.
In any case, an independent check of the tonometer at home is possible only with a reference tonometer. Therefore, if there is a risk of a similar situation, it is better to purchase not one device, but two, using one of them as a reference.
conclusions
Thus, an independent check of the tonometer at home, if there is only one device with obviously knocked down readings, is impossible. To independently check the tonometer, a reference device is needed, the accuracy of which is beyond doubt.
For full confidence in the correct operation of the device, it is necessary to take it to a pharmacy, hospital or clinic for calibration, and do this with a certain frequency. Then the tonometer will last a long time. It is important to always remember that most malfunction of the tonometer is due to improper use - all the same, such devices are mostly reliable and accurate.