How to Use the Pulse 3 Blood Pressure Monitor: Complete Guide with ESH Protocol

The Pulse 3 measures blood pressure, detects arrhythmias, and announces the results vocally in Italian. This guide teaches you how to use it as accurately as possible, following the protocol recommended by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH 2023).

What's in the Box

• Pulse 3 Monitor
• VitaeChek Universal Cuff (22–42 cm)
• USB-C Charging Cable
• Travel Case
• Complete Italian Manual
• 2-Year Warranty Card

First Setup

1. Charge the Pulse 3: connect to the USB-C cable (port on the back panel) for 90–120 minutes until fully charged (full battery indicator on the display)
2. Set date and time: press and hold the SET button for 3 seconds → navigate with the UP/DOWN keys → confirm with SET for each item
3. Select profile: the Pulse 3 stores 2 user profiles (User A and User B, 120 measurements each). Press and hold USER to select the profile
4. Download the VitaeChek app: App Store or Google Play → automatically connects via Bluetooth 5.0 on first opening

The Correct Position: The Most Important Factor

Position affects the result as much as the device. Following these steps reduces variability to ±3 mmHg:

1. Chair with back support — do not measure while standing or lying down
2. Feet flat on the ground — do not cross legs (alters pressure by 5–8 mmHg)
3. Arms rested on a table, at heart level
4. Cuff 2 cm above the elbow, on bare arm (not over a sweater)
5. Silence — do not talk during measurement
6. 5 minutes of rest before starting

Which arm? Measure both arms the first time. Always use the one with higher values — generally the left for anatomical reasons. If the difference is >15 mmHg, report it to your doctor.

How to Wear the Cuff

1. Wrap the cuff around your bare arm, with the tube on the inner side of the arm
2. The lower edge of the cuff should be 2 cm above the elbow
3. The cuff should be tight enough not to slip, but loose enough to insert one finger between the cuff and the arm
4. The Φ mark on the cuff should align with the brachial artery (inner side of the arm)

Taking a Measurement

1. Press the START/STOP button
2. The cuff inflates automatically — keep your arm still and relaxed
3. After 5 seconds, values appear on the display: systolic (large) / diastolic / heart rate
4. The Pulse 3 verbally announces the values in Italian: "Pressione sistolica centoquarantadue, diastolica ottantotto"
5. If the IHB icon (heart with exclamation mark) appears, the Pulse 3 has detected irregular heartbeats — see dedicated section
6. Wait 1–2 minutes and repeat a second measurement
7. Record the average of the two measurements

The ESH 7-Day Protocol: How to Use It

For a clinically reliable assessment of average blood pressure, ESH 2023 guidelines recommend the 7-day protocol:

• Measure every morning (before taking medication, before breakfast) and every evening (before dinner)
• Each session: 2 measurements 1 minute apart, record both
• Discard day 1 (often higher due to "home measurement anxiety effect")
• Calculate the average of measurements from days 2–7
• Threshold for diagnosis of home hypertension: average ≥ 135/85 mmHg

The VitaeChek app performs this calculation automatically — after 7 days of measurements, it shows the ESH average with comparison to reference thresholds.

The IHB Icon: What It Means

IHB (Irregular HeartBeat) is the Pulse 3's algorithm for detecting irregular heartbeats during measurement. It activates when the processor detects rhythm variations exceeding a certain threshold.

What to do if the IHB icon appears:

1. Do not be alarmed — a single episode is not diagnostic
2. Repeat the measurement after 5 minutes of additional rest
3. If the icon appears in 3 or more consecutive measurements, report it to your doctor
4. Your doctor may request an ECG or a Holter ECG for evaluation

IHB does not replace an ECG but is a screening tool that can lead to a diagnosis of silent atrial fibrillation that might otherwise go unnoticed for years.

Reading the Pulse 3 Display

Frequently Asked Questions

The Pulse 3 gives me different values than my doctor. Is this normal?

Yes, and it is expected. Clinic blood pressure is often higher due to the "white coat effect" — a difference of 10–15 mmHg is physiological. Systematically lower home measurements than clinic measurements are actually more representative of the actual cardiovascular risk.

How many measurements should I take per day?

For routine monitoring: 2 per day (morning + evening). For diagnosis or medication titration: follow the ESH 7-day protocol. For maintenance after reaching targets: even 1 per day is sufficient.

How long does the battery last?

Approximately 300 measurements per full charge. The display shows a charge indicator. When the battery drops to 20%, the display flashes — recharge within the next 60 measurements.