From Cuffs to Wearables_ The Evolution of Blood Pressure Monitors

1. From Cuffs to Wearables: The Evolution of Blood Pressure Monitors The first sphygmomanometer was invented in the early 20th century. Since then, blood pressure monitorshave come a long way. With the advancement in science and technology, blood pressure machines have also become more and more sophisticated and efficient. The true extent of the advancement in BP Machine can truly be appreciated by analysing its evolution over time. The very first blood pressure machine consisted of manual cuffs. Healthcare professionals were the only ones who could use these devices to measure your blood pressure. The cuffs were designed to be inflatable. The main principle behind such BP machineswas the inflating and deflating of the cuff. After inflating the cuff to a certain pressure, it would then be allowed to slowly deflate, all the while the healthcare professional would use a stethoscope to listen for the sound of the flow of blood through the arteries. For a long time, the manual blood pressure machine was the only accurate means of measuring your blood pressure. This was up until the 1970s when the automatic blood pressure monitorwas introduced. Rather than using inflated cuffs to hear the flow of blood, these machines made use of electric sensors to detect the pulse, based on which a digital reading of the blood pressure was provided. The next stage of evolution for blood pressure machineswas the introduction of ambulatory blood pressure monitors. These monitors could be worn for 24 hours straight, allowing for the monitoring of BP at regular and frequent intervals. Being able to measure blood pressure for 24 hours straight proved to be revolutionary for the treatment of those with elevated blood pressure and for those who experience “white coat hypertension”, which is the condition where individuals have high blood pressure when they are measured in a professional and/or clinical setting. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has become a staple in modern times for the tracking of acute hypertension in patients. With high blood pressure becoming more and more prevalent, the need for portable blood pressure machines has risen considerably. Technology has come a long way and has managed to create new means of measuring blood pressure. One such means is through finger monitors. As the name suggests, these small monitors are placed on the finger and using infrared light, it detects the flow of blood and provides a pressure reading. Smartphones have alone become a mode of estimating blood pressure readings and have become increasingly popular. A BP monitor can connect to a smartphone app through Bluetooth and be used to track, monitor and record blood pressure over time. Some brands have their own app that can be installed on a smartphone and be connected to their blood pressure monitor, and through the use of AI, can provide customised recommendations to improve blood pressure. The most recent development in blood pressure reading is the creation of wearable blood pressure monitors. These devices can be worn like a watch or bracelet and make use of

2. sensors to constantly measure and monitor blood pressure. Wearable BP machines can provide 24/7 live feedback on changes in blood pressure. A wearable BP machinecan function as a highly portable Ambulatory BP Machine, allowing people to make proactive choices and changes to their lifestyle to better control and improve their blood pressure. From this, blood pressure monitoring technology has come a long way over the years. From manual cuffs to modern wearable BP machines, the advancement of technology has made it easier for people to measure monitor and manage their blood pressure levels with greater ease. As technology and scientific breakthroughs continue to evolve, more innovative blood pressure monitoring devices will be developed in the future.