Decent Stethoscope & blood pressure cuff?

proud2deviate

proud2deviate

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Apr 5, 2004
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For years now, my mother has wanted a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff (a bit odd, since she's generally healthy. Oh, well.) Mother's day is coming around, and I'd like to pick one up for her. However, I'm totally ignorant of such things. I'd like to get her one that's of at least decent quality, and I have no idea where to start. Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer? How much should I expect to spend for a quality set?
 
Taking blood pressure with a cuff and stethoscope is a bit of an art. The nicer quality ($50-$100) digital units are about as accurate as the old method for people who are properly trained, meaning they are much better for people who aren't trained. You basically slap it on, turn it on, and it does the rest for you. It'll be important for her to follow the instructions and keep in mind that blood pressure goes up and down all day long depending on activity levels, so she should be consistent with when she takes her BP and under what conditions to get accurate readings.
 
if its for her blood pressure, I'd go for the automatic unit, its challenging to use a regular set up on ones self.

If it is for someone else, then the limit is your funds, I have an "Ultrascope" and a WelchAllyn trigger with multiple cuffs, and the total would be well above a mid range automatic. but the Ultrascope is freaking awesome, I've gotten good sound through t-shirts and underarmor!
 
i use a littman cardiology 3 stethascope, i've read a systolic bp at 45 with it, which is really good. it was expensive but if your hearing isn't that good it really makes difference
 
Recommending a $200 stethoscope and and $150 cuff seems like overkill for someone who wants to monitor their own BP from home occasionally, but that's just me.
 
Chiro75 said:
Taking blood pressure with a cuff and stethoscope is a bit of an art.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is. And people who aren't trained and don't have years of experience usually get it wrong.

Fortuanately, today, there are fully-automatic sphygmomanometers which are easy to use and remarkably accurate.

What you miss with an automatic sphygmomanometer is the facination and joy of hearing your own heart beat. When you listen to your chest, it's not just thump, thump, thump. There are wonderful complexities. One of the most sublime experiences of my life was watch my own heart beating on an ultrasound machine's image. It cost a lot of money to have that experience. But a good part of that experience can be had listening with a stethoscope.

Fortunately, the stethoscope is the least expensive of the pair and you can buy both an automatic sphygmomanometer and an adequate, old-fashioned stethoscope for not a lot of money these days.

Your mother will be transfixed.
 
"Recommending a $200 stethoscope and and $150 cuff seems like overkill for someone who wants to monitor their own BP from home occasionally, but that's just me."

I agree with chiro's post. It may also make your mom's BP high from frustration. Unless she has good skills in wrapping the cuff properly on one arm, positioning the stethoscope head properly on the proper spot/brachial fossa, Then inflate the cuff then release the air slowly while listening is a job that may need 3 arms (the arm that is cuffed has to remain relaxed.).

The automated version will be more consistent for her purposes. But to answer the OP's question, I would recommend the Littman Classic stethocope. http://www.stethoscope-gallery.com/main/home.aspx
For the sphygnomanometer, the Tycos. http://www.welchallyn.com/products/en-us/x-11-ac-100-0000000001163.htm

braindoc
 
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Mom worked in a weight loss clinic for a few years, and became quite proficient in taking blood pressure. I never thought about the difficulties of preforming such a chore on oneself, though. I wonder if she has? Hmm, how to find out without spoiling the surprise. . .

The stethoscope will likely see more use listening to heartbeats, breathing, and other bodily sounds than for blood pressure. Thanks for all of your advice, people:thumbup: Looks like I have some research and shopping to do. . .
 
I just bought the Panasonic from Walmart. Nothing fancy, but stores 90 readings. Just remember to have arm resting horizontal. That changed my readings! (No, I don't read directions)
 
Don't know if you can take your own blood pressure without affecting the reading. Probably best to go auto.

Paul
 
"The stethoscope will likely see more use listening to heartbeats, breathing, and other bodily sounds than for blood pressure."

And for cracking safes? We know what she is planning to do...:)

Ok, if your mom is proficient in taking BP's, see if she can do this. Wrap the cuff on the left arm properly, put the stethoscope head on the brachial fossa, hold the head in place with the right hand edge while she pumps up the cuff with the right hand. Then release while listening. The left arm and hand remains relaxed.

braindoc
 
braindoc said:
"The stethoscope will likely see more use listening to heartbeats, breathing, and other bodily sounds than for blood pressure."

And for cracking safes? We know what she is planning to do...:)

Ok, if your mom is proficient in taking BP's, see if she can do this. Wrap the cuff on the left arm properly, put the stethoscope head on the brachial fossa, hold the head in place with the right hand edge while she pumps up the cuff with the right hand. Then release while listening. The left arm and hand remains relaxed.

braindoc
Click to expand...

I'll let you know how it goes after mother's day. If nothing else, I can learn to take BP. Never opposed to learning a new skill:thumbup:
 
braindoc said:
Ok, if your mom is proficient in taking BP's, see if she can do this. Wrap the cuff on the left arm properly, put the stethoscope head on the brachial fossa, hold the head in place with the right hand edge while she pumps up the cuff with the right hand. Then release while listening. The left arm and hand remains relaxed.

braindoc
Click to expand...

I can do this no problem, it's not that hard.
 
Yep, she managed it. It took her a couple of goes to get back into the swing of things, but she got it done. Her BP was 105 over 60, I was 120 over 80.

I ended up getting her a set by Omron Sprauge Rappaport. It scored pretty well in a review I read, with high marks for loudness and clarity. Build quality feels really nice. Mom's happy, I'm happy.
 
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