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When is Thigh Blood Pressure Measured?
If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, or even pre-hypertension, regular monitoring of your blood pressure is an essential part of your overall treatment plan. But how should you monitor your blood pressure? There are a number of ways that you can keep track of your blood pressure and a variety of home monitors on the market today. While this can allow you to choose a monitor that will work best for you, it can also be confusing to know which one to select. Some hypertension patients will question whether they should test their blood pressure using an arm cuff, or if a thigh blood pressure reading will be more accurate and easier to achieve. While there are some circumstances where a thigh blood pressure reading will be appropriate, it is much more common to find blood pressure monitors that work with an arm or wrist cuff.
Different Types of Blood Pressure Monitors
There are a number of different types of blood pressure monitors on the market today, and they will vary greatly based on accuracy, ease of use and cost. Some will allow you to test your thigh blood pressure with the properly sized cuff, and others will not, since an arm reading is the more common method that is used for home monitoring. An aneroid monitor is the traditional type of blood pressure monitor that comes with a cuff that is tightened by squeezing a bulb, and a stethoscope that allows you to listen for your heartbeat as the blood passes in and out of your arteries. This type of monitor is the least expensive, and can come with a cuff for thigh blood pressure readings as well. However, an aneroid monitor can be more difficult to use, and is sometimes less accurate, especially if you have difficulty hearing. Another type of monitor that is quite popular today is the electronic or digital monitor that will read your blood pressure automatically and either record the reading on a screen or on a paper printout. Again, you can find some digital monitors that will come with a specially sized cuff for thigh blood pressure readings.
When a Thigh Blood Pressure Reading Might be used
Your doctor may decide to get a thigh blood pressure reading from you if you have had an injury or surgery to your arm that might prohibit him from getting an accurate reading in this area. A thigh blood pressure reading is also a valuable tool in determining whether there has been a narrowing of the arteries in a leg due to a condition called peripheral arterial disease. A thigh blood pressure cuff might also be used on the arm of a patient who is too large to allow a regular arm cuff to fit properly. For these reasons, a thigh blood pressure cuff can be an important component in allowing your doctor to get an accurate blood pressure reading on you.
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