turbulence which can be heard through the stethoscope. Now the pressure is reduced till the
sound is heard because when the air cuff pressurefalls below the diastolic pressure of arteries,
there is no blood flow turbulence and hence no sound.This way, systolic and diastolic blood
pressure is measured. The normal value of systolicpressure is 120 and for diastolic pressure is
80.
There are different types of manual bp monitoringdevices, some like mechanical dial and
mercury. But all this manually used requires practiceand cant be used by anyone with no
medical experience. So nowadays a digital bp monitoringdevice is available that can be used
by anyone and anywhere without requiring medical practitioneror anyone’s help.
A digital blood pressure monitor contains a battery-poweredpump, inflatable air bladder cuff and
a pressure sensor to measure arterial pressure. Thismethod of monitoring the bp is known as
the oscillometric method.
In digital bp monitoring devices, there are two typesbased on where they are used. First is the
upper arm model where the air cuff is placed in theupper region of the arm as shown above and
the other is the wrist model where the air cuff isplaced around the wrist as shown below. In the
upper arm, the air cuff is connected to the pump withthe help of wire whereas the wrist model is
compact, and the whole device just fits on the wrist.The technology is advancing every day.
Today there is a blood pressure monitor in a smallsmartwatch-like GOQii. One can check
pressure at any time and anywhere.