Blood pressure represents the force of blood on the walls of the arteries as it travels through the circulatory system. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm/Hg or lower, according to MedlinePlus. Because high blood pressure increases the risk for heart attack, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes, regular blood pressure monitoring helps diagnose the condition as soon as possible and prevent complications.
Types
Medical professionals use manual and automatic blood pressure cuffs. A care provider has to wrap the manual cuff around a patient’s arm and use a stethoscope to hear the blood pressure. Automatic machines record blood pressure without the use of a stethoscope. Blood pressure cuffs also vary in size. Pediatric cuffs accommodate the small arms of children. Medical professionals use extra-large cuffs on overweight or obese patients with arms too large to fit in the normal adult cuff.
Features
The manual blood pressure cuff consists of a gauge, inflation bulb, air hose and the cuff itself. These cuffs have one of two different types of gauges. The aneroid gauge uses a numbered dial to indicate blood pressure. The digital gauge displays blood pressure on an LCD screen. The automatic blood pressure cuff consists of an air hose, cuff and display unit.
Function
To use a manual blood pressure cuff, a care provider uses the inflation bulb to pump up the cuff. Using a stethoscope, the care provider listens to the patient’s blood pressure as the aneroid gauge falls. After determining a blood pressure measurement, the care provider deflates the cuff completely and removes it from the patient’s arm. Using an automatic blood pressure cuff is easier than using a manual cuff. With the touch of a button, the cuff inflates on the patient’s arm and the machine takes a blood pressure measurement. The automatic cuff displays the measurement on a display unit.
Maintenance
Both types of blood pressure monitors need regular care and maintenance. For an automatic blood pressure cuff, clean the display unit with a soft, damp cloth, recommends Casmed. Use soap and water for cleaning, not harsh chemicals that could damage the unit. You should check both manual and automatic cuffs for leaks in the air hoses and improper calibration. Proper care and maintenance of a cuff prevents inaccurate readings, which could lead to a delayed diagnosis of high blood pressure.
Problems
Both manual and automatic blood pressure cuffs can develop problems. Air leaks in the hoses make it difficult to inflate the cuffs properly. In cuffs with digital gauges, cracks in the LCD screen make it difficult to see and record an accurate blood pressure measurement. If a blood pressure cuff develops one of these problems, take it to a qualified repair professional or replace the defective cuff with a new one.
