A biometric monitor is a device that measures different aspects of a person’s behavioral or physiological behavior. It basically measures the biological data of a human being. Therefore, in essence, the humble thermometer that we use to measure the temperature of our body is also a biometric monitor.
There are different kinds of biometric monitors that can be used, depending on the purpose. There are monitors that measure the temperature of the body; the pulse rate or the heart activity; blood pressure; blood glucose level etc. Here are a few common biometric monitors that are often used in households and hospitals.
Thermometers – One of the popular kinds of thermometer is the mercury thermometer which is used to measure the temperature or fever of the body. The mercury expands when heated, and rises up a glass tube, stopping at the corresponding temperature mark. Most thermometers have both Celsius and Fahrenheit readings for the ease of the user.
Blood pressure monitors – A blood pressure monitor is a device that measures the blood pressure of an individual based on the readings of two values – the systolic pressure, which is the peak pressure in the arteries, over the diastolic pressure, which is the minimum pressure. Blood pressure should be monitored regularly in patients suffering from hypertension or hypo tension, and other related conditions.
Glucose monitors – Also known as glucometer, glucose monitors measures a person’s blood glucose level. Glucometers are essential to monitor the glucose in the blood of diabetic patients, as an increase in sugar may initiate serious medical conditions. There are two types of glucometers, continuous glucose monitors, which measure the glucose level every few minutes using small sensors, and the fingerstick glucose monitors that uses a sample of blood to read the glucose level.
Pulse oximeters – Pulse oximeters are used to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood. It is generally used to detect breathing or respiratory problems, and is also used to monitor oxygen saturation in patients under intensive care. There can be three types of pulse oximeters – stand-alone, handheld, or pocket PC –based pulse oximeters.
EKG machines – Electrocardiogram or EKG machines are devices that measure the activity of the heart. It detects the electronic signals sent by the heart in between heartbeats. It is used to detect abnormal activities of the heart induced by sleep, or stress-related problems. EKG machines can be of two types, continuous, which continuously monitors heart activity, or intermittent which records the activity once in a while, but can be used for weeks or months.
Pedometers– Used mainly for exercise purposes, a pedometer measures the number of steps a person takes while walking to stay fit. By quantifying the number of steps taken, a person can then calculate the amount of calories burned. Many sports item manufacturers, such as Nike, are producing pedometers to help motivate fitness enthusiasts.
There are numerous other biometric monitors used for medical or physical training purposes. There are the calorie counters, the body-fat calculators, the cholesterol monitors, fitness monitors – and a number of other devices. Prices of these vary in accordance with the brand, the quality, and the durability of the product.
When buying monitoring devices, make sure that the device is working properly and that it is equipped with all the additional items, if any. Many cheap monitors do not give correct readings, and can be deadly when monitoring critical patients. Therefore, when buying biometric monitors, it is more important to buy quality products that come with a guarantee, rather than inexpensive brand-less ones. This is because biometric monitors keep a check on health conditions, and you should never compromise with your health.
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