Most electronic blood pressure monitors come with a manual that explains how to use the device. If you have misplaced your manual or are looking for a simple way to learn how to use an electronic blood pressure monitor, this page is for you! We will discuss ten steps for using a digital blood pressure machine that everyone can understand and perform at home.
1. First, Get All Your Materials Ready
Before you can use an electronic monitor, you need to make sure that all the required supplies for measuring blood pressure are available and accessible. Here are the basic supplies that you should have handy:
- A digital electronic or aneroid machine
- An adult-sized cuff (not the child one) with adjustable strap/band
- Batteries, if necessary
- A comfortable place to sit and relax
Note that it does not matter where you are sitting, as long as the environment is calm and quiet without distractions such as music or TV. You need to pay attention when measuring blood pressure so you can get accurate results. If you have distractions, this can impact your reading accuracy.
2. Sit Comfortably
Make sure to sit in a relaxed position. Sit with your back straight but not stiff, and make sure that you are comfortable enough to perform the test correctly. You can even lie down, if necessary, as long as it is on a flat surface without any obstructions or disturbances around you.
Do not elevate your legs when measuring blood pressure. Elevating only one leg is fine but make sure that it is done in a comfortable position and that you are relaxed. The point here is that you don't want any distractions or variables present to impact your heart rate.
3. Check the Battery
Check to see if your electronic blood pressure monitor is fully charged or not. If it's low on battery, plug it into a power source and allow the machine to recharge for 30 minutes at least before using it. Please do not use an electronic device when its battery life is running out because you might get inaccurate results or no results at all. This is because there may still be power, but the electronic device will automatically shut down to protect itself. Once you are sure the battery has enough power, move on.
4. Wrap the Cuff Around Your Arm
After sitting for a few minutes, place your right arm on a table or any solid surface. Lift it and wrap the cuff around your upper arm just above your elbow joint. The cuff should be wrapped snuggly but not too tight where you feel uncomfortable or painful when wearing it. Make sure that the cuff fits around your arm correctly, so it provides accurate readings.
5. Turn on the Monitor
Now it's time to turn your electronic blood pressure monitor on. You will find a power button to do so, and make sure that you press this when turning the machine from off mode into measurement mode. From there, check to see if there are any more commands to give your digital blood pressure machine to get it running. Then, you will be ready to get your readings started.
6. Start Doing Reading
The cuff might be turned automatically for inflation once you have turned the device on because the device might inflate automatically. If it is not inflating yet, press any button to turn on inflation mode so you can get results by doing a reading using your electronic device.
You will need to sit back and let your electronic monitor do its job, which should take about 30 seconds or even less, depending on how well you are following all these steps correctly. Once there are two reading sets found on your electronic blood pressure monitor, the device will automatically deflate, and you will now be ready to move on to the next step.
7. Remove the Cuff but Leave Device On
After inflation mode has stopped, it is time to remove the cuff from around your arm and press any button that reads "memory" or "store." You should hear a beep sound for this command which means that everything is done. Once you have pressed the button, your electronic monitor will store the readings so you can turn it off.
8. Mark Down Your Results
If you want, write down your electronic blood pressure monitor reading in a notebook or any paper. You might also record the date and time given after pressing "memory" or "store" if these buttons exist on your device. Before turning off the machine, though, make sure that you know the results of your electronic device readings. Otherwise, you will have to start all over!
9. Remember that this Reading is Normally Accurate
You should know that electronic blood pressure monitors are highly accurate at measuring BP. The most significant variable that can impact your readings is your current set and setting. If you are stressed out while watching a movie, for example, it can raise your heart rate. This is why it is so important to be relaxed while doing readings.
10. Seek Out Help If You Think Your Readings are High or Low
If your electronic blood pressure monitor tells you that your BP is high or too low, get help from a medical professional. Your readings are only as accurate as the device you put them on. So if there are any problems with your readings, go to see a doctor immediately since they can get a second opinion on your readings. This might be an immediate need for those who get multiple readings that indicate blood pressure that is too high or too low.
Need to Buy a New Electronic Blood Pressure Monitor?
If you are looking for an electronic blood pressure monitor, check out our store here at Wizard Research! We have new products on sale plus offers that will save your time and money. There are many reasons to get your own digital blood pressure machine. If you have a health risk that merits quick attention of your blood pressure, then having your own should be no question!
