Frequently asked Questions
about our Blood Pressure Products

1. Can I connect any cuff as long as it fits to the connection port?
2. Is a manual monitor as accurate as an automatic device?
3. Can I wash the cuff?
4. I already have an AC/DC adapter at home, can I use it or do I need the MICROLIFE adapter?
5. My MICROLIFE blood pressure monitor pumps up but does not release the air, what is wrong?
6. What is the meaning of the different messages "Err1", "Err3", etc.?
7. Why and when should I send the device in for an accuracy check?
8. How do I know if the device is still accurate after long usage or after being dropped
9. Is a wrist device advisable for self-measurement?
10. Can the 3BTO only be used on pregnant women or can other family members use it?
11. What is pre-eclampsia?
12. What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
13. When does pre-eclampsia occur in a pregnancy?
14. Who is most at risk?
15. Does high blood pressure mean I have pre-eclampsia?
16. Why is blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy so important?
17. Which values are normal during pregnancy and when are they too high?
18. Which values are normal before and after pregnancy?
19. What are the risks of pre-eclampsia to the baby and me?
20. What is the treatment for pre-eclampsia?
21. Can pre-eclampsia be prevented?
22. Are there any long-term effects from pre-eclampsia?
23. Helpful links on PreEclampsia.

Can I connect any cuff as long as it fits to the connection port?
MICROLIFE's blood pressure monitors can only give reliable results when the device is connected to a MICROLIFE cuff. If your arm circumference is between 22 and 32 cm, you should use the MICROLIFE "M-size" cuff. If it is between 32 and 42 cm, you should use the MICROLIFE "L-size" cuff.

Is a manual monitor as accurate as an automatic device?
Both systems supply the same accuracy. Automatic models have an installed electric pump instead of the hand pumping ball but this has no influence on the accuracy.

Can I wash the cuff?
No, the cuffs of home monitors are generally not designed to be washed. This might change the cuff dimensions and lead to a loss in accuracy. But under normal application it is not required to wash the cuff. Spots on the cuff can be removed carefully with a damp cloth and soapsuds.

I already have an AC/DC adapter at home, can I use it or do I need the MICROLIFE adapter?
MICROLIFE's blood pressure monitors require a very specific power supply. This can only be guaranteed by the use of batteries or the MICROLIFE AC adapter. The adapter is specifically designed for our products.

My MICROLIFE blood pressure monitor pumps up but does not release the air, what is wrong?
In this case please check the air connector between the tube of the cuff and the device. A plastic ring should be fixed on the middle part of the adapter. If it is missing, the connector is connected too far into the device and blocks the air release system. Connect the ring - or if the ring is missing, please contact your Microlife dealer. The purpose of the ring is to enable static pressure controls during biannual maintenance checks.
The connector of our newest model does not have the ring anymore but its distance parts have two different lengths. Take care that the shorter side is connected with the device and the longer one with the tube.

What is the meaning of the different messages "Err1", "Err3", etc.?
MICROLIFE's blood pressure monitors are developed to detect the blood pressure accurately and to display the result only if it is clearly free of errors. If an error is detected during measurement, the device distinguishes between different causes of the error and displays the related error number accordingly. The instruction manual explains each error code.

Why and when should I send the device in for an accuracy check?
MICROLIFE's blood pressure monitors are developed to remain accurate for a long product life. To guarantee this accuracy we recommend - in accordance with international standards - that you ask your authorised Microlife dealer to perform an accuracy check every two years.

How do I know if the device is still accurate after long usage or after being dropped?
Generally, the monitor gives accurate results if it is working. If, for example, the device has been dropped but you cannot detect any malfunction when operating it, there is no need to worry about the accuracy. The main component that mainly influences the accuracy is stored in the computer program. This software either works or doesn't. Other parts which affect the accuracy such as the deflation valve and the pressure sensor are very well protected against modifications by accidents or ageing.
In any case and in accordance with international standards we recommend that you ask your authorised Microlife dealer to perform an accuracy check every two years.

Is a wrist device advisable for self-measurement?
The newly developed wrist devices also measure blood pressure using an oscillometric method. They are fully automatic: they inflate the pressure cuff automatically and automatically release the pressure again at the correct rate. Some wrist devices have the pressure cuff incorporated in the device (Blood Pressure Watch). Wrist devices measure blood pressure fairly reliably if used correctly. However, the fully automatic finger devices, which measure blood pressure and pulse rate on the index finger, frequently give faulty readings. This occurs, for example, if the index finger is not held steady at the height of the heart or if the small terminal branches of the arteries (arterioles) are constricted due to cold fingers, as a result indicating too low a blood pressure.

Can the 3BTO only be used on pregnant women or can other family members use it?
The 3BTO is very suitable for general blood pressure testing including family members.

What is pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia is a problem that occurs in some women during pregnancy. It can happen during the second half of pregnancy. Your doctor will look for the following signs of pre-eclampsia: high blood pressure, swelling in the lower extremities that don’t go away and protein in your urine.

What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
A person with a “mild” pre-eclampsia may feel perfectly well. Therefore, it is important to attend all prenatal checkups to spot this condition early. The symptoms of severe pre-eclampsia, which can develop during the last weeks of pregnancy, are high blood pressure, headaches, blurred vision, intolerance of bright light, nausea and vomiting and excessive swelling of the feet and hands.

When does pre-eclampsia occur in a pregnancy?
Pre-eclampsia can appear at any time during the pregnancy, delivery and up to six weeks post-partum, though it most frequently occurs in the final trimester and resolves within 48 hours of delivery. Pre-eclampsia can develop gradually, or come on quite suddenly, though the signs and symptoms may have been present for months undetected or unnoticed.

Who is most at risk?
Pre-eclampsia is more common in a woman's first pregnancy and in women whose mothers or sisters had pre-eclampsia. The risk of pre-eclampsia is higher in women carrying multiple babies, in teenage mothers and in women older than age 40. Other women at risk include those who had high blood pressure or kidney disease before they became pregnant and women with a body mass index (BMI) over 35.
The cause of pre-eclampsia isn't known.

Does high blood pressure mean I have pre-eclampsia?
Not necessarily. If your doctor sees that your blood pressure is high, he or she will watch you closely for changes that could mean you have pre-eclampsia. In addition to high blood pressure, women who have pre-eclampsia also have excessive swelling. They may also have protein in their urine. Many women with high blood pressure during pregnancy don't have protein in their urine or extreme swelling, and don't get pre-eclampsia.
If you have high blood pressure daily blood pressure monitoring is very important.

Why is blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy so important?
Pre-eclampsia can be recognised by a clear increase in blood pressure. You should therefore measure your blood pressure at least twice a day - in the morning and evening. Please perform the measurements when you fell relaxed, under quiet conditions and in a sitting position.

Which values are normal during pregnancy and when are they too high?
Please refer to the following table. These data should be taken as a reference during pregnancy (units in mmHg):

Which values are normal before and after pregnancy?
Table for classifying blood-pressure values (units mmHg) according to World Health Organization:

What are the risks of pre-eclampsia to the baby and me?
Pre-eclampsia can prevent the placenta from getting enough blood. If the placenta doesn't get enough blood, the baby gets less air and food. This can cause low birth weight and other problems for the baby.
Most women with pre-eclampsia still deliver healthy babies. A few develop a condition called eclampsia, which is very serious for the mother and baby, or other serious problems. Fortunately, pre-eclampsia is usually detected early in women who get regular prenatal care, and most problems can be prevented.

What is the treatment for pre-eclampsia?
The only cure is delivery of the baby. When pre-eclampsia develops, the mother and her baby are monitored carefully. That means blood pressure should be monitored twice daily, frequent monitoring of urinary protein excretion, weight change and symptoms are mandatory. There are medications and treatments that may prolong the pregnancy, which can increase the baby's chances of health and survival.

Can pre-eclampsia be prevented?
Pre Eclampsia does not seem to be a disease which can be prevented by regulating lifestyle factors such as what a woman eats, whether or not she smokes or drinks, how hard she works, how much exercise or rest she undertakes, how anxious or relaxed she is, and so on. Moreover, there is also some evidence to suggest that calcium supplements may decrease the risk of Pre-eclampsia, especially in mothers living in areas deficient in dietary calcium. Calcium may work under these circumstances by helping blood vessels to relax, thereby preventing hypertension.

Are there any long-term effects from pre-eclampsia?
For most mothers, delivery will reverse all the effects of Pre Eclampsia. Some women who have suffered Pre-eclampsia during pregnancy may develop high blood pressure later in life. This is thought to be caused by a genetic tendency to high blood pressure rather than to have been caused by the Pre-eclampsia itself.
For babies, only if the babies have suffered severe nutrient starvation or oxygen deprivation in the womb or have been troubled by complications of pre-maturity. It is currently thought that babies born of mothers who have suffered Pre-eclampsia do not in themselves develop long-term health problems.

Helpful links on Pre-Eclampsia

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