You bought a tonometer for personal use. And everything seems to be good. My head hurts, but pressure repeatedly shows normal limits, which means there are no problems. But then you go to the doctor and trouble begins. It turns out that the pressure is higher than what the devices bought for blood money show and the health situation is running worse than nowhere, despite the well-known or semi-automatic tonometer of a famous brand bought for several thousand rubles. We will understand in detail.

which tonometer is better automatic or semi-automatic

Comparison of mechanical and automatic

How does a mechanical blood pressure monitor work? With the help of a pear, air is pumped into the cuff, and a heart rate is listened to with a stethoscope. The first beat of the heart corresponds to the upper threshold of pressure, the last heard when bleeding air - to the lower.

The mechanical tonometer has not changed much since the invention. The appearance has changed a little, but the essence will remain the same.

Advantages of a mechanical tonometer:

  1. Accuracy. There is a myth that a mechanical tonometer is always more accurate than an automatic one. This is not entirely true. An automatic mercury tonometer is more accurate than all other devices. But it is expensive and extremely fragile. Such a device is not suitable for an elderly person, a child or a pregnant woman. Any inaccurate movement and the device is damaged. But it is precisely to these categories of people that it is first of all required to measure pressure. Therefore, in the general case, the buyer chooses mechanical tonometers, the measurements of which are more accurate, or automatic, which are simply more convenient.
  2. Independence of results. In automatic devices, indicators depend on many factors: meal time, body position, conversations, and many more indicators. Half of the instructions for using the automatic tonometer are occupied by recommendations on the location of the body and the time of measurement. Mechanical devices have no such problems.
  3. No need for power supplies. It is understandable that mechanics do not need any power sources.

Disadvantages:

  1. Inconvenience in personal use. With the help of mechanics, a person will not be able to measure pressure on his own. Just because not everyone can hear their heart rate. Use will be difficult if the user has problems with fine motor skills (which is possible due to various heart diseases). It will be difficult for such a person to pump air into his cuff.
  2. The cuff can only be located on the shoulder. Due to some heart diseases, measurement on the femoral artery may be required. Not to say that this is impossible with a mechanical device, but often the cuff length is simply not enough.
  3. Lack of additional features. Electronic blood pressure monitors themselves determine the pressure in arrhythmias, note the fact of arrhythmia, there is a function for determining complications in pregnant women. And most importantly: an electronic device is capable of self-history. After that, any doctor will be able to track the history, which will be of great help in the treatment.

The undoubted advantage of mechanical tonometers is the price. It’s rare that a device costs more than 900 rubles. Even products from foreign brands that are used around the world are inexpensive.

The principle of operation of electronic tonometers does not differ from mechanical ones, but electronic algorithms are used to take readings. On the one hand, this is good, as it adds many useful features. On the other hand, this is precisely the reason for the inaccuracy of measurements.

The price of automatic blood pressure monitors ranges from 500 to 1200 rubles. Rarely what devices go beyond these price limits.

Advantages of automatic blood pressure monitors:

  1. A wide variety of mounting options. There are everyday tonometers in the form of a bracelet for athletes and joggers. There are models for people with arrhythmias who can calculate the result according to three measurements. You can choose a model with a stable body or for measurements on the femoral artery.
  2. Ability to record results. Few people keep a diary of blood pressure, while this is indispensable data for making a diagnosis. The device is able to do everything for you.
  3. Undemanding to the user. The device itself will supply air to the cuff, it will measure the pressure and show the final result. There is no need to listen to the stethoscope and slowly relieve pressure. The device does everything on its own.

Disadvantages of automatic blood pressure monitors:

  1. Inaccuracy of measurements. The results of automatic machines are highly dependent on body position and external factors. In addition, the algorithms of electronic machines are different, each manufacturer seeks to create their own software.
  2. Network addiction. Electricity is not always available when traveling, but on the other hand, there are battery-powered models. In any case, this is not always convenient.
  3. Price. The fact of the price is also important in choosing a device for personal use. And automation costs 3-5 times more.

Comparison of automatic and semi-automatic

Automatic tonometer or semiautomatic device is a good choice for people for whom mechanics are not suitable for the reasons already mentioned. It seems that an automatic device would be the best solution, but this is not always the case. Few people are ready to allocate a round sum for the automatic adaptation from the family budget. In addition, the machine is inconvenient to use on a trip and in places where there is no electricity. Therefore, as a compromise between a mechanical and an automatic device, a semiautomatic device is often chosen.

The semiautomatic device itself measures the pressure, but the air must be forced into the cuff by the user. It is more durable than automation. On the other hand, such a device is not suitable for the elderly, because fine motor skills deteriorate with age. It will be difficult for a person to pump air into the cuffs. The device costs an average of about one and a half thousand rubles. This is significantly cheaper than automation, which costs an average of three thousand rubles.

Benefits:

  1. Price
  2. Network independence
  3. Permissible accuracy of results

Disadvantages:

  1. Good hand and finger motility required
  2. Low functionality compared to automation.
  3. There is no way to track pressure changes, since the device only stores information about the last few measurements
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As a result, it turns out that a semi-automatic tonometer is a cross between an automatic machine and a mechanic. It can not be said that he was different for the better, since he has shortcomings from all devices, but there are much fewer advantages.

Pressure Tips

Regardless of whether you use a mechanical or automatic tonometer, there are medical recommendations that must be followed for the sake of accurate results.

Recommendations:

  1. Coffee, tea, spirits, meals and smoking - all this overstates blood pressure for one reason or another. If you have a mechanical pressure gauge, then the differences will not be so terrible, but still there will be an error. Therefore, before measuring, it is best to lie down for half an hour or an hour, read a book or watch TV.
  2. Depending on the position of the body in space, indicators may vary. Bent limbs are able to survive vessels and capillaries, which will negatively affect pressure indicators. The best position for measuring: direct posture, legs bent at an angle of 90 degrees, breathing is even and no talking.
  3. For accurate results, it is best to take a few measurements. At least three with an interval of 5-10 minutes, and then calculate the arithmetic average of three values. An automatic blood pressure monitor is able to crank out such a manipulation on its own.
  4. The rule of communicating vessels also affects the human body, so it is better to place the cuff at the level of the heart. So that the lower end of the mount is 2.5 cm above the elbow.
  5. In the right and left hand, the measurements will be slightly different, so for the sake of completeness of the clinical picture, it will be better to take measurements each time on one arm: the right or left.

It’s better to choose a machine for the house, and a semi-automatic machine is well suited for travel and business trips.

Conclusion

When choosing a tonometer, you need to focus on your own needs and capabilities. The step-by-step selection process looks like this:

  1. Budget allocated for purchase. If the question is money, then usually the choice is between an automatic and a semi-automatic device. If you expect to spend no more than two thousand rubles, then in any case you need to buy a semi-automatic device, if less than a thousand, then the mechanics. If the budget does not matter, you should pay attention to the following factors.
  2. Is there a patient person with good hearing in the family who can help you measure your blood pressure? If so, then you should buy a mechanical device. If not, then only an automatic machine or a semiautomatic device. Everything rests on the budget again.
  3. What category does a person belong to, who will need to make a replacement? If this is an elderly person, a child or a pregnant woman, then it is better to choose an automatic blood pressure monitor. Just because of the advanced functionality, which will allow better control of the treatment process.
  4. How often does a person who needs to control pressure travel? The automatic blood pressure monitor is a very fragile device that is easy enough to break, especially when traveling. Therefore, for travel and constant moving semi-automatic would be ideal.

When choosing, be sure to inspect the purchase. Unfortunately, it is impossible to evaluate the quality of the automatic blood pressure monitor directly in the store (apart from a simple integrity check). Therefore, it is better that a guarantee is issued upon purchase. This will allow you not to waste money if the device suddenly breaks.

That's all the principles and recommendations according to which you can choose the perfect device for controlling pressure. It is better to buy an electronic blood pressure monitor for the home, but if there is a need for very accurate measurements or there is a professional nearby who is not difficult to take a measurement, you should buy a mechanical one.