5 Lifestyle Changes To Reduce Hypertension

Hypertension aka high blood pressure is a common lifestyle disease. Earlier, this disease was prevalent only in developed countries. However, in the last two decades, the disease has spread its wings all over the world. A common reason for increased blood pressure is the change in lifestyle including food habits, work habits, lack of exercise, etc. Before looking at methods to reduce hypertension, let us look at hypertension itself.

Hypertension In India

Hypertension is a leading cause of deaths in India, according to a study in 2013. In fact, hypertensive heart disease accounted for 2.6 lakh deaths in India each year, according to the study. Hypertension is the most common chronic disease in India. The number of people with hypertension are increasing in urban areas; whereas, in the rural areas it is still lower. According to an estimate, there were approximately 118 million affected people in India in the year 2000. By the year 2025, the number is expected to touch 214 million.

Since, hypertension is often invisible and does not exhibit easily noticeable symptoms, the disease itself is called silent killer. So it is very important to keep a check on your blood pressure levels at regular intervals.

Hypertension as a lifestyle disease

Over the past few decades, Indians have seen vast changes in every walks of life. It includes the way we eat to the way we commute to our work place. These lifestyle changes have not spared even our sleep. Let us take a look at some of those changes. We used to cook our food and eat it. Now we go to restaurants. We used to commute by train or bus. Now we take our car. Those were only a few examples. All these changes have had effect on the way our body.

How to Reduce Hypertension

There are many ways to reduce your hypertension. Taking medicines and not changing our lifestyle is the easiest way out there. However, do remember. There is a cost to it. No; I am not talking about the financial cost, rather, cost in terms of our overall well being. Taking too much medicines is not a healthy practice. Someday, those bad effects which hide inside your body will pop out of nowhere and cause you worries. So here are five things I practice.

Change Food Habits

SALT

Using less salt is the number one way to reduce your blood pressure. It is easier said than done. Every packaged food item we eat, especially those fried chips, contain good amount of salt. We may not notice this while eating. Normally we eat those items either while watching TV or talking to our friends. In either case, you focus on your primary activity – watching TV or talking.

SUGAR

Recent studies have suggesting that sugar intake is more dangerous than salt intake. So it is in your interest to reduce the sugar intake. By reducing the sugar intake, you get other obvious health benefits too. I reduced my sugar intake a lot.

Fiber Rich Food

Eat fiber rich food. Again you must have heard this so many times. How do I ensure that the food I eat is fiber rich? One of the easiest way is to include known fiber rich food in your diet. Include some food items like lentils and broccoli in our food.

Eat Less

Most noteworthy, you should reduce the amount of food you eat. In fact, we do not realize the amount of food we eat. We need not eat a lot of food as we think. I reduced my weight from 82 kg to 70 kg in four months. Without any additional exercise. It is that easy. Just reduce the amount of food. I tried fasting. It did not work. I am sharing with you what worked for me.

Change Entertainment Habits

Know that television is our number one enemy. It forces us to stay in one place, eat more, reduces our sleep, etc. I know that it is difficult to change the habits. Yes, even I used to spend a lot of time in front of television. When I used to come back from work, I used to switch on the television and spend a lot of time in front of it.

Less Television Time

What we see and hear daily impacts our thoughts. The impact can be either positive or negative. In case of television, it is mostly negative. I would narrate how it affects negatively. And, it affects men, women and kids in different ways.

Men mostly watches sports and news. Those watching sports like cricket spend a lot of time in front of the television sets. Yes, it is an entertainment medium. However, it makes us lazy. Someone else is paid for our time. In case of news, the anchors tell us their version of a story and silently force us to have the same opinion as theirs. It affects us negatively.

Women mostly watch serials on television. I have tried watching some serials which my mother watches. I cannot simply digest the contents. They mostly portray a perfect woman as the protagonist. And you as a woman, expect that perfect behaviour from everyone else. It is a recipe for disaster in family life.

As a kid, I watched a lot of television. I could have spent that time better. Instead, I could have read a few works of fiction. I could have gone out with my friends.

Less Social Networking

Similar things apply for social networks as well. There are benefits, however, harms outweigh those benefits. I stopped using Facebook a few months ago and never regretted. It was one of the best decisions I have made.

You may be wondering how these things affect your hypertension. Hypertension itself is a silent killer. Televisions and social network makes silent changes in your body. You may get upset with some new story or government’s action or inaction in certain scenarios. Those things increase your blood pressure. You may not realize the change while it is happening. Now I worry less about these things and I am happy.

Change Work Habits

Every company out there tries to give you a feeling that you are the most empowered person in your role.  I too, have fallen in that trap. Empowering you gives many benefits to your employer. You think that you are empowered to do some action. With that feeling, you spend more time at work. You try to behave as if the whole company depends on your work. You begin to think that no one can replace you. If a company achieves to build that mindset inside you, they have won their battle. And, you will work forever, thinking that you are very important.

Excitement About Empowerment

Such thoughts about empowerment, in fact does not reduce your hypertension. It increases your blood pressure and pushes you to spend more time at work. However, I am not saying that you should not be loyal to your employer. When you put too much effort into something not worth it, the line between exploitation and your commitment becomes thin. At one stage, it becomes non-existent. And, by the time we realize our mistake, it will be too late.

Carrying Laptops Home

At my work, the employer used to give laptops to everyone. And, we were not allowed to keep laptops at office. We had to carry it home and bring back next day. And when you have your office with you 24×7, you can work 24×7 as well, if needed. When I go back, I had to carry the laptop. It added a few kilograms to my backpack and often hurt me. When I realized what was happening with me, I spoke to my manager and got permission to keep my laptop at office. I told him that since I stay close to office, I could reach office in case there is something which requires my urgent attention. He agreed.

Sitting Continuously

Unless your job involves frequent travelling, chances are that you spend much of your time working on a computer sitting on the same chair four hours on end. You may not realize the damage you have done to your body, until it is too late. So get up and start walking. When you call some informal meetings, do not sit and discuss. Stand up and discuss. Use a whiteboard to draw something and explain your thoughts. Physical actions always help.

Once upon a time, when I was on a junior role in a company, I used to think that I was the most important guy. That did not cost me much, but I realized how I was being exploited by my employer. However, I could figure out the wrong signals before it was too late. Similarly, I used to sit on the chair for a long time and work continuously. Although my productivity was very high at those periods, my heath began taking a toll. It took me a few visits to a doctor to get things in order.

Change Travel Habits

We commute to our workplace on a daily basis. Almost everyday, we take the most comfortable option to travel. It is okay to choose a comfortable option to travel. At times, you can take one of those uncomfortable option too. Just for a change. It gives you a different perspective.

Morning Walk

I used to take an auto rickshaw to work every day. The workplace was just a few kilometers away. Later, when I had to shift my residence, I chose a house near to the office, just under a kilometer. That caused me some worries. I could no longer get a rickshaw. The auto drivers simply refused to take me to the office, because they could get another customer who wants to travel a longer distance. So I started walking. It was difficult, but there was no choice. It took me two weeks to get adjusted to that change.

Now I am reaping the benefits of that move. I walk for a couple of kilometers every day. That is a big achievement. I could feel the difference in a couple of months. I could feel myself healthier. When I walk to work, I could see other people. I would forget about work and concentrate on walking. Daily walking has helped me. I know that it would work for you as well. My father, used to walk every for a few kilometers. And that morning walk helped him reduce hypertension and reduce the medicine intake. And, his doctor concurred too.

Change Sleep Habits

All other bad habits I had, effectively led to less sleep. In some cases, I could feel that the quality of my sleep was not good enough. I could not feel the same excitement and freshness every morning. I still remember when I used to wake up early in the morning and asked myself – Why the hell am I working? Why isn’t today a holiday?

Motivation

Yes, I know some of you may also be facing similar problems. However, do not be discouraged. If you can make at least one of the above changes in your life, then the sleep quality will improve. It is important that our mind and body gets complete rest when we sleep. In my case, it was not so for long. My next day at work always used to bother me during my sleep. Sometimes, I could even feel an uneasiness inside me.

While I made changes in four areas mentioned earlier, there is one area where I still could not make a change. I could not stop using computer before I sleep. Mostly, because that was my productive time. I could get most out of the day after my dinner. Everyone else sleeps early and I can concentrate on my work. There is no one to disturb me at night.

It has not bothered me till date. I am not sure if this is affecting me silently. I could not see any anomaly in routine medical tests.

Conclusion

Hypertension can kill you. In fact, it deserves the name silent killer. The first step in overcoming these issues is to accept the fact that we have hypertension. There is no point in telling ourselves that whatever difficulty we face are temporary and you can change it with some adjustments. However, if we do not adjust our life, we stand to loose. There is no one else to blame other than yourself.

Although I was never diagnosed with hypertension, I could feel some of those pressure moments in my life. I made some adjustments in my life and thankfully it has worked out in my favour.

All of these changes I have made does not cost any money. Only my grit was required and I did no exercise. You too can change. Do not attempt to change all at once, take time. It is a long game. If the doctor has prescribed any medicines, take it religiously without fail.

In case you have high blood pressure or hypertension, it is important to monitor the blood pressure regularly. Please take a look the best blood pressure monitors available in India.

Nebulizer Machine – How to choose the best?

With increasing respiratory problems, the word nebulizer (nebuliser) has become a household name. In urban areas, it is uncommon to find a family where at least one member does not suffer from respiratory problems. Nebulizer is a machine commonly used to assist people with breathing problems. Nebulizer machine turns liquid medicine into a mist. The patient inhales the mist, receiving fast relief. You would have seen this equipment in most hospitals. Common conditions requiring use of nebulizers include asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Cystic Fibrosis, etc. The number of people with respiratory problems have increased in the last few years.

Nebulizers assume significance because they are an effective way of administering medicines to people with breathing problems. Since breathing is an involuntary activity, the medicine can be administered to people even when they are unconscious.

Types of Nebulizers

There are two types of nebulizers – mechanical and electrical. Mechanical nebulizers, as the name implies, use mechanical power to operate. The most common kind of mechanical nebulizer is a handheld device called inhalers (Metered Dose Inhalers). The patient uses his hands to operate the inhalers. The inhalers administer a fixed amount of medicine when the patient operates the inhaler. Another kind of mechanical nebulizers called Human Powered Nebulizers (HPN). Such nebulizers find its use in remote areas where electricity is unavailable. It derives its name from the fact that another human has to generate energy required to operate the nebulizer.

Electric Nebulizers

Electric nebulizers are common and are available under various commercial names. Compressor Piston type nebulziers and ultrasonic nebulizers are common nebulizers available today. There are some situations where use of inhalers are not effective. Electric nebulizers are effective for such situations. Use of inhaler requires patient to take a deep breath and then inhale the medicine. However, it may not be possible for people with acute symptoms and breathing problems.

Compressor Piston Nebulizers

Compressor Piston Nebulizers can be easily identified by the sound it produces. It is not a silent machine and you can hear its working from the nearby rooms. This type of nebulizer pumps a steady stream of compressed air into a mixer unit, where oxygen and liquid medicine mixes together and produces mist. The mist thus produced, is inhaled by the patient using mouthpiece, mask, etc. The inhaler mask helps you breathe the mist effectively. This mask makes things easy to administer medicines to kids and infants.

The compressor sucks air from the atmosphere, compresses the air to make it cold and then pumps the air through a tube. The tube contains a medicines and special mechanism that facilitates mixture of oxygen and medicines.The mixing process atomizes the liquid medicine and turns it into mist. The mixture of air and medicine in small particle form is known as aerosol.

Jet nebulizer is another name for compressor based neblizers. This is because, the nebulizer employs a jet stream of compressed air to atomize the liquid medicines. The compressor piston based nebulizer utilizes moving parts like compressor for its operation. So, the energy needed to operate the machine is much higher and it produces more sound. The chances of malfunction are also higher. The next type of electric nebulizer machines, ultrasonic nebulizers, solve such issues.

Ultrasonic Nebulizers

Ultrasonic nebulizers are silent compared to jet nebulizers. The ultrasonic nebulizers do not have any moving parts inside them. So, it is more energy efficient and portable. Before we move on, let us understand how it works.

Ultrasonic nebulizers have a piezoelectric ceramic crystal that vibrates at very high frequencies. The vibration of the crystal at high frequencies generate enough force to atomize the liquid medicine to mist. Mist so produced, being lighter, floats and comes out through the output vent. A connected mouthpiece can help the patient inhale aerosol comfortably. The nebulizer does not have any mechanism to push the mist towards the user, like in the case of a compressor nebulizer.

The ultrasonic nebulizers are very lightweight and are portable. It can operate on batteries. The advantage is that the patient can keep the unit in his hand and inhale the mist according to his comfort. However, this is a disadvantage in certain scenarios which involve bedridden patients, infants, etc. They will not be able to keep the nebulizer in their hand in a steady state and inhale the mist. This is one reason why you will not find ultrasonic nebulizer in hospital environments. A compressor nebulizer can be used in all scenarios where an ultrasonic nebulizer is used. However, the reverse is not true.

Choosing the best nebulizer for home use

There are several factors you need to keep in mind when buying a nebulizer for home use. In the following sections, I will take a look at the most important  aspects you must keep in mind while choosing one.

Who

This is very important. Although all nebulizers work the same way, the comfort of the patient in question comes first. Your grandmother can certainly use a nebulizer made for kids. It will work efficiently and provide the relief. However, you need to ask whether she is comfortable using it. Old people, at times, can become stubborn on their preferences. An ultrasonic nebulizer could be the best choice for an adult. It can be useful while traveling as well. However, it would be difficult to use the same machine for a bedridden patient or an infant.

Warranty

If you are surprised by seeing this at the second spot, think about it. It is a critical machine. Think of a situation where someone is finding it hard to breathe and the nebulizer machine is not working. What are the alternatives? None. Unless that person has another machine handy, things are going to be bad. I’m not saying that having a lengthy warranty period guarantees working of machine every time. When a company is offering a longer period of warranty, it means that the company is confident in the machine and the probability of failure is low. In any case, I would always recommend having a backup nebulizer, if you can afford it. If you regularly use an inhaler, then it is not necessary to have a backup.

Where

If you are looking at a nebulizer strictly for home use, then it is recommended to get a compressor piston nebulizer. However, if you are looking at a nebulizer, that you can carry in your trips, then an ultrasonic nebulizer will be the right choice. Having said that, you might want to consider the patient’s preference as well.

Components

Some nebulizers do not come with a child mask and you may end up buying one from the local market. Similarly, a mask for child does not come with adult mask. You should consider these aspects while choosing one. Some nebulizers come without additional air filters and a storage bag. Do check the package contents before buying a nebulizer.

Maintenance

This is another aspect you should watch out for. In case you use the nebulizer quite frequently, then you may have to replace the air filter every 60 days. However, if you happen to live in a much more polluted area, then you may have to replace the filter early.

Final Words

Nebulizer machines are critical equipment for anyone who needs breathing assistance. You should choose the machine based on the actual requirement and taking into consideration the patient preference. Nebulizers are cheaper alternatives to handheld inhalers, for patients who use it frequently. And, buy a backup nebulizer if you can afford it and the breathing problem of the patient is acute. You shouldn’t be looking for alternatives when the patient needs breathing assistance. Finally, take a look at the best nebulizers available in India.

Best Blood Pressure Monitor In India

With increasing tensions in all walks of life and changing food habits, blood pressure for most Indians are increasing steadily. The increased blood pressure can cause severe damage to the body. The increase in blood pressure happens silently. Most people ignore the early symptoms of blood pressure and carry on with their usual work style and self treatment. It is in this scenario, a portable blood pressure monitor comes handy. Most of my family members, apart from children, have hypertension. That was the time I set out to find the best blood pressure monitor for my family. In this review, I take a look at the options I evaluated and how I selected the best.

There are two types of automatic blood pressure monitors available in the market today. They are upper arm type and wrist type. Upper arm blood pressure monitors seem to be more popular and widely accepted in the medical community. The upper arm type blood pressure monitor tends to give steady reading and perform accurately in comparison to the wrist type. That is the reason why you will never find a wrist type blood pressure monitor in a hospital. In this review, we will take a look only at the upper arm type digital blood pressure monitors available in India.

Omron HEM-7120 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor

Omron is a popular brand in health care devices. It is a Japanese company with worldwide presence. Omron HEM-7120 is one of the popular automatic blood pressure monitor machine in the world, not just India. The blood pressure machine displays both systolic and diastolic pressure and current heartbeat simultaneously. The product is designed for household use.

Features

  • One touch operation
  • Automatic hypertension indicator
  • Body movement detection
  • Memory of the last reading
  • Irregular heartbeat detection

Package Contents

  • Omron Blood Pressure Monitor Machine – 1 No
  • Arm Cuff – 1 No
  • AA Batteries – 4 No
  • Storage Case – 1 No
  • User Manual – 1 No

The automatic hypertension indicator alerts you when the blood pressure falls outside a pre-programmed range. In this case, the pre-programmed values are 85mm/Hg for systolic and 135mm/Hg for diastolic pressure. The arm cuff provided with the monitor machine supports a circumference of 22-32cm. At 250g, the diffuser is lightweight as well.

One of the factors you need to keep in mind is that the monitor needs 4 AA size batteries. The company claims that it will last for 1000 readings. Do not mix old and new batteries. In case you do not use the blood pressure monitor for longer periods, say two months or more, then remove the batteries from the unit and keep them safe. The unit can work on AC Power as well. In case you use the monitor regularly, it is recommended to buy an AC Adapter for this unit. The AC adapter does not come bundled with the unit.

The blood pressure reading will be inaccurate if you move while the reading is being taken. The monitor machine has an indicator which blinks in case there is a body movement during the measurement. So if this indicator blinks during the movement, please sit and relax and repeat the measurement after a few minutes. Yet another good feature of the blood pressure monitor is irregular heartbeat detection. In case the unit displays the irregular heart beat icon frequently, you need to consult your doctor immediately.

For people with large arms, a separate arm cuff is available for purchase. The user manual included with the blood pressure monitor is detailed. Hence I would recommend you read the user manual cover to cover before using the blood pressure monitor machine. The blood pressure monitor comes with one year standard warranty and five year extended warranty. You should calibrate the blood pressure monitor machine once in an year, if you are a regular user. You may contact Omron call center to get help with calibration.

Pros

  • Handy features like body movement detection and automatic hypertension indicator
  • Easy to use
  • The included battery lasts for 1000 measurements
  • One year standard warranty and five years extended warranty

Cons

  • Can keep track of only the last reading
  • The pre-programmed hypertension values are not in line with Indian recommendations of 120/80mmHg

Omron HEM-7132 Blood Pressure Monitor

Omron HEM-7132 is one of the most recommended automatic blood pressure monitor units available. It is easy to use and built to last. The monitor offers good accuracy in the readings taken.

Features

  • Body movement detection
  • 60 records with date and time
  • Detects irregular heartbeats
  • Blood pressure level indication
  • Easy to fit cuff and wrapping guide
  • Average of last three readings

Package Contents

  • Omron HEM-7132 Blood Pressure Monitor – 1 No
  • Arm Cuff – 1 No
  • AA Batteries – 4 No
  • Storage Case – 1 No
  • User Manual – 1 No

The operation is simple. What makes this unit stand out is the arm cuff guide. There is an indicator lamp that glows green if the arm cuff is wrapped correctly. If it is wrapped correctly, then the reading will be accurate. Otherwise, there could be errors in the reading. The arm cuff fits circumference of 22-42cm.

Another nice enhancement in this model is the guest mode. When guest mode is selected, the values are not stored in memory. The company recommends re-calibration of the monitor every two years. You can contact the company to know about your local representative who can help you out with this.

The monitor comes with one year standard warranty and five years extended warranty. The user guide is detailed and contains instructions to operate the device and for its maintenance.

Pros

  • Accurate measurements
  • Cuff wrapping guide
  • Body movement detection
  • Can store 60 previous measurements
  • Irregular heartbeat detection
  • Five year extended warranty

Cons

  • Only one user profile

Dr. Morepen BP One BP09 Fully Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor

Dr. Morepen is an Indian company that manufactures items related to healthcare. They have many models of blood pressure monitor available in the market. This is a popular blood pressure monitor. This monitor is designed for home use.

Features

  • Supports up to four users
  • Irregular heartbeat detection
  • Auto Power Off
  • Can store up to 120 entries in memories. Useful for family use

Package Contents

  • Dr. Morepen BP One BP09 Blood Pressure Monitor
  • 4 AA batteries
  • Arm Cuff (22-36cm)
  • Storage Case
  • User Manual

The build quality of the monitor is good. It has a black display. As mentioned in the review earlier, this product supports irregular heartbeat detection. So if the machine detects that your heartbeat variation is not normal, it will not display a result and it will altert you. One of the advantages of this machine is that it can detect heartbeats in the range of 30-180 beats/minute.

After completing the blood pressure measurement, the monitor indicates your blood pressure on a scale recommended by World Health Organisation. There is a small arrow on the blood pressure machine that indicates the level on which your pressure measurement falls. It does not have much utility rather than as a selling point. If you take your own blood pressure readings, then you know if that is high or low. Depending on the case you would normally consult your physician.

The product comes with a detailed user guide. It contains all the instructions which you should follow, while handling the device. Dr. Morepen Blood Pressure Monitor comes with one year warranty. There is an option to buy a charger for the device. Also, it is worth noting that the monitor does not bundle a charger. This monitor can save the readings along with the date and time. 30 such records can be saved under a single profile. So it can give a good overview of your blood pressure history if you monitor it on a regular basis.

Pros

  • Support for four user profiles
  • Saves date and time of the measurement
  • Detects irregular heartbeats

Cons

  • Only one year warranty
  • Body movement while taking measurement can affect the final values
  • Sometimes, the monitor produces inaccurate readings

Rossmax MJ701f Blood Pressure Monitor

Rossmax MJ701f Blood Pressure Monitor

Rossmax is another popular brand in healthcare devices. They are present in multiple countries and offer a wide range of healthcare devices. Since the company is present in Europe and North America, they adhere to the healthcare standards set by those market regulators. This blood pressure monitor machine is also no different. It is one of those units with high quality build and convenient operation.

Features

  • Body movement detection
  • Real Fuzzy Technology
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detector
  • 120 record memory
  • Guest mode
  • Average of last three readings
  • One-touch operation
  • String bag
  • Patented latex-free cone cuff

Package Contents

  • Rossmax MJ701f Blood Pressure Monitor – 1 No
  • Carry bag – 1 No
  • Arm Cuff – 1 No
  • AA batteries – 4 Nos
  • User Manual – 1 No

The arm cuff bundled with the product has a circumference of 24-40cm. Real Fuzzy Technology sounds a little complicated. However, what it does is simple to understand. It adjusts the cuff pressure according to your arm size and systolic pressure. You do not need to preset any inflation level. It improves the measurement of blood pressure.

Rossmax blood pressure monitor carries two year warranty. It works on AA batteries that comes bundled with the monitor. There is a provision to connect to AC outlet with an additional adapter. The adapter is not bundled with the monitor. The product also comes with ESH and BHS certifications. It supports three user profiles and can store thirty readings for each user with date and time. There is a hypertension risk indicator which shows your risk relative to the standards.

One of the unique features of this BP monitor is its ability to connect to a computer. It connects to the computer using a special USB cable available for purchase separately. The required software can be downloaded from the company website.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Lifetime Calibration, with re-calibration required indicator
  • Detects body movement during measurement
  • Accurate Measurement
  • Weak battery indicator
  • PC Connectivity and free software to connect
  • Conforms to ESH, AAMI and BHS standards
  • 120 record storage memory with date and time

Cons

  • It does not have an auto-shutdown facility
  • Body movement during tests can affect the results. The monitor does not warn you about this.

Omron HEM-7130-L Blood Pressure Monitor

Omron HEM7130 Blood Pressure Monitor is a high quality blood pressure monitor from Omron. It comes with a soft and long cuff. The cuff size is 22-42cm. This is enough for most people. On top of that, it provides some additional functionality as well.

Features

  • Body movement detection
  • Cuff wrapping guide lamp
  • Irregular heart beat detection
  • 60 records in memory with date and time
  • Improved Accuracy with IntelliSense Algorithm

Package Contnets

  • Omron HEM-7130-L Blood Pressure Monitor – 1 No
  • Wide range soft cuff – 1 No
  • AA Batteries – 4 Nos
  • Storage Case – 1 No
  • User Manual – 1 No

The features in this BP monitor are similar to those offered by HEM-7132. However, there are some improvements as well. First, it features an Intellisense algorithm, that can improve the accuracy of the readings. Secondly, the soft wide range arm cuff supported bundled with the monitor is of excellent quality. The operation of the device is a easy with one touch reading. In addition to this, the monitor works has two other add-ons: arm cuff for minors and AC Power Adapter.

Pros

  • Improved accuracy
  • Soft and wide range arm cuff
  • Body movement detection
  • Irregular heartbeats detection
  • Availability of arm cuff for minors as an add-on
  • One year warranty and five years extended warranty

Cons

  • Relatively expensive
  • Lack of PC Connectivity option

Conclusion

You may choose any of the above products for your home use. These are really good products, that can serve you for a long time without any problems. While you cannot declare one unit as the best, one can certainly select a unit as best based on the value it delivers for a given price we pay. You can see from the list that Omron is dominating this category of devices. Their products have excellent build quality and superior warranty offerings. Having said that, here are my recommendations:

Best Blood Pressure Monitor in India on a budget

Best Blood Pressure Monitor with wide range arm cuff

Best Nebulizer In India Online

With increasing pollution, the number of people who get cold and breathing problems on a regular basis are increasing with each passing day. While you might have a nearby doctor or a clinic where you can take patient to, it is important to have a good nebulizer at your home. It comes in handy when someone shows problem in the middle of the night or in a situation you may not be able to go out. My father smokes and he refuses to quit that habit. The physician recommended buying a nebulizer, so that he can breath easily. So I set out to find the best nebulizer in India.

Before purchasing a nebulizer, you should understand that there are two types of nebulizers available in the market today. They are Piston Compressor Nebulizers and Ultrasonic Nebulizers. There are few technical differences between these two; however, you should know that ultrasonic nebulizers cannot replace piston compressor nebulizers in all applications. In this review, I take a look at the best nebulizers available in the Indian market.

Omron NE-C28 Compressor Nebulizer

Omron NE C28 Compressor Nebulizer For Child and Adult With Virtual Valve Technology Ensuring Optimum Medicine Delivery to the Raspiratory System

Omron is a reputed brand of medical equipment. Make no mistake, this product is not an exception. It delivers a solid package and is worth every rupee you spend. This product is well built, has multiple options for both adults and children, has an option to inhale directly using a mouthpiece, in addition to using a mask and through nose. No wonder, I find this nebulizer prominently in most hospitals and clinics. This product has a solid construction and is well suited for the regular use.

This nebulizer comes with a Virtual Valve Technology (VVT) that allows patient to seamlessly inhale medication mist. Most compressor nebulizers use a silicon valve which allows the patient to exhale without removing the mask. Such an arrangement may require constant adult supervision for children. They might swallow the valve. The virtual valve technology eliminates such a situation.

Omron NE-C28 comes with five spare air filters. The nebulizer works on AC Power. The nebulizer offers one year warranty and three years extended warranty as well.

Package Contents

  • Compressor Unit – 1 No
  • Nebulizer Kit – 1 No
  • Mouthpiece – 1 No
  • Adult Mask – 1 No
  • Child Mask – 1 No
  • Air Tube (207cm) – 1 No
  • Spare Air Filters – 1 No
  • Carrying Bag – 1 No
  • Instruction Manual – 1 No

Pros

  • No need to remove mouth piece during exhalation
  • Separate masks for adults and children
  • Ease of cleaning
  • Child friendly operation
  • Minimal wastage of medication liquid
  • Detailed instructions in the user manual
  • 3 year extended warranty after one year standard warranty

Cons

  • The nebulizer is not totally silent, due to the compressor at work
  • The supplied carrier bag can not accommodate all accessories

Check the best price on Amazon

Rossmax NA100 Piston Nebulizer

Rossmax NA100 is a piston compressor type nebulizer. It is a company based out of Switzerland. The company claims that it has a patented technology called Valve Adjustable Technology (VAT), that allows the nebulizer to provide controllable nebulization rate at consistent particle size. The nebulizer produces fine mist with excellent particle size.

The viscosity of the medication causes the particle size to be different. When the valve is fully open, the nebulization rate will be higher. This is a good setting for high viscosity liquid medicines and patients with higher breathing capacity. When the valve is closed, the nebulization rate will be lower. This setting is recommended for kids/infants with lower breathing capacity. These settings ensure that the medicine is not wasted due to higher rate of nebulization. Moreover, the company says that the product is the most beneficial to people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The nebulizer works on AC Power. The company provides three years standard warranty on the product (Amazon Product listing shows only two years warranty. However, it is clearly mentioned in the product and the manufacturer’s website that the product has three years standard warranty). The nebulizer, been made in Switzerland ensures that the equipment conforms to European Standards.

Package Contents

  • Rossmax Nebulizer Kit – 1 No
  • Air tube – 1 No
  • Air Filters – 5 No
  • Instruction Manual – 1 No
  • Adult Mask – 1 No
  • Child Mask – 1 No
  • Mouthpiece – 1 No
  • Bag – 1 No

Pros

  • Hospital grade product
  • Flow control using VAT
  • High quality materials and excellent product design
  • Three year standard warranty
  • Low particle size. You can feel the difference when the mist comes out
  • Excellent for kids and infants
  • The mouthpiece can be adjusted at different angles

Cons

  • The medicinal cup is attached to the inhaling unit. So it becomes inconvenient when you handle the product alone
  • The nebulizer can not be used in a sleeping position as it would cause medicine to leak
  • Relatively noisy, especially for infants

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Philips Sami the Seal Nebulizer

Philips is a trusted name in household appliances. Its products are known for reliability and quality. Sami the Seal Nebulizer is a unit that has the shape of a seal. The main attraction point of this nebulizer is its shape, apart from usual Philips promise of quality and reliability. The shape of the seal should attract children and keep them comfortable during the entire nebulization process. The fine mist produced by this nebulizer is of excellent quality.

As far as the nebulizers are concerned, there is no difference between those made for children and adults. The nebulization process is also the same. However, what matters is to kids are a level of comfort and engagement. The kids, facing breathing problems may not be in a situation to enjoy the seal. However, it can arouse a bit of curiosity and keep them engaged. The kids might mistake this for their toy and may want to continue to play with this toy even after nebulization.

The mask that comes with the nebulizer is a pediatric mask. In case you want to use this nebulizer for adults, then you may have to buy another mask. The company offers three year warranty on the product. The nebulizer works on AC Power.

Package Contents

  • Samy the seal compressor – 1 No
  • SideStream reusable nebulizer – 1 No
  • Tucker the turtle pediatric face mask – 1 No
  • Mouthpiece – 1 No
  • Tube – 1 No
  • Air Filters – 1 No
  • Sami bag – 1 No
  • Instruction manual – 1 No

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • Fine mist produced by the nebulizer
  • Consistent mist flow

Cons

  • There is no flow control to adjust the mist output
  • The compressor is a bit noisy

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Nulife Handyneb Pistontype Compressor Nebulizer

Handynab Nulife Pistontype Compressor Nebulizer

Nulife Handyneb is a popular nebulizer in India. This is a professional grade compressor nebulizer. According to the company website, the product has been renamed to Nutec Handyneb Nebulizer, although Amazon page still displays the old name. This is an Indian company.

The product can be wall mounted as well. On the functional front, the nebulizer offers good performance. The nebulizer offers a more silent operation compared to similar brands available online. Airflow is good too. The nebulizer is made using an anti-shock material.

Package Contents

  • Piston Compressor Nebulizer – 1 No
  • Adult Mask – 1 No
  • Child Mask – 1 No
  • Mouthpiece – 1 No
  • Nebulizer bottle – 1 No
  • Air tube (2 meter) – 1 No
  • Carry bag – 1 No
  • Wall mount kit – 1 No
  • Instruction Manual – 1 No

Pros

  • Low price
  • Good build quality
  • Low noise
  • Wall mount kit included
  • Long air tube

Cons

  • No flow control
  • No spare air filters included
  • Instruction manual not available online
  • Not battle tested like other international brands

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Citizen CUN-60 Ultrasonic Nebulizer

All the models we have considered until this point use air compression to atomize the liquid particles. However, a major disadvantage of the technology is the amount of noise it produces. Another important aspect is the power consumption and portability. The compression nebulizer is bulky and requires more power to operate. Hence, it is difficult to operate a compressor type nebulizer in a portable manner without needing AC Power.

It is in this scenario, the ultrasonic nebulizers come into limelight. They do not need a pump to generate mist. They use a solid state piezoelectric material to generate high frequency waves which split the medicine into very fine mist particles. These particles can be inhaled using the nebulizer setup for easy absorption.

Citizen CUN-60 is such an ultrasonic nebulizer. It is a product of Japan and has been designed with precision. Moreover, the nebulizer is portable and is battery operated. The nebulizer comes with clear advantage of ultrasonic technology – silent operation. You would not hear the sound of the nebulizer from a distance of two meters. This nebulizer has other many other features like three speed operation, a timer control, etc. The power consumption of the ultrasonic diffusers is the lowest.

One important aspect you have to take care while using an ultrasonic nebulizer is not to overfill the medication cup. If you overfill, the nebulization will be weak and you may not get the correct amount of mist as it should.

Package Contents

  • Citizen CUN-60 Ultrasonic Nebulizer – 1 No
  • Stand – 1 No
  • Battery – 1 No
  • Charger – 1 No
  • Bag – 1 No
  • Medication cup – 1 No
  • Connector tube for mask – 1 No
  • Adult Mask – 1 No
  • Mouthpiece – 1 No
  • Nose inhaler – 1 No

Pros

  • Excellent build quality
  • Low noise
  • Portable
  • Energy efficient
  • Fine mist

Cons

  • Expensive compared to compressor based models
  • Handheld operation may create issues with kids
  • Ultrasonic nebulizers are unable to aerosolize viscous fluids

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Conclusion

When it comes to nebulizers, it is hard to choose the right one. This becomes a problem for most people and they would buy one that is recommended by the local pharmacy guy. However, you need to be careful while selecting one that you would use. It is wise to buy the most popular nebulizer. Each nebulizer has its strength and weakness. Quality control process, through which the nebulizers undergo are important as well. In quality control, I would trust reputed brands from Europe or Japan.

Having said this, here are my recommendations:

Best Nebulizer In India on a budget

Although  and Rossmax NA100 Nebulizer come close in their performance, I suggest going with Rossmax NA100 Piston Nebulizer as it adheres to many European Standards and the test reports are available freely. Having said that, I must add that you cannot go wrong with either product.

Best Nebulizer For Home Use

In this case, I have considered the best nebulizer you can buy for a home use in a reasonable budget. Citizen CUN-60 Ultrasonic Nebulizer comes out as a winner, because of the ultra silent operation and portable usage. This machine works on battery power as well, making it as a good travel companion.

Best nebulizer for Babies

While you can use any nebulizer for babies, Philips Sami the seal Nebuliser is built for babies. The look of the nebulizer machine may attract babies, and keep them engaged for a while. However, if there is someone else in the family who also needs a nebulizer, then I suggest one of the alternatives mentioned above. Please note that this nebulizer comes with only a child mask. In case you want to use it for an adult, you will have to buy a separate mask.

Nebulizers are very important medical equipment for people who have breathing problems. There is no point in buying a cheap nebulizer, only to find it not working when you need it the most. So, I recommend buying a reliable product for such critical situations. And, in case the situation demands and your budget allows, I suggest you buy a backup nebulizer as well.