A large observational study found a small, but consequential, rise in average blood pressure during the early peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Average systolic blood pressure increased by about 2 mmHg. Diastolic pressure also rose slightly.

Nearly one-third of American adults have high blood pressure and more than half of them don’t have it under control. Though professional, in-office measurement can be more reliable than at-home readings, there are good reasons for regular self monitoring.

Non-contact body thermometers (NCIT) utilize infrared technology to measure temperature at a distance. They belong to a category that also includes tympanic (inner ear) thermometers.

“Nursing” covers a wide range of professional specialties, from nursing aides to LPNs, and RNs with varying levels of education and clinical demands. With so much professional diversity, finding the right stethoscope for the job can be a challenge.

One of the most important parts of a blood pressure instrument is the cuff, which wraps around the patient’s limb and occludes the artery. In automated NIBP, the cuff does double duty, imparting air pressure, occluding the artery and acting as a “sensor”.