Connected Bluetooth And App
App-based blood pressure monitors generally give you more and better data logging capabilities than the traditional standalone models, including a longer history, data manipulation and graphing, and often the ability to communicate with other health-based apps for more holistic monitoring of your vital signs.
App-based monitors generally don’t have their own displays, so you need to connect your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi before you can take a quick measurement .
While there are many benefits to an app-based approach, having to pair your phone with your monitor adds a level of complexity to the process. If you and technology don’t exactly see eye to eye then you may be better off with a conventional standalone monitor.
How To Buy The Best Blood Pressure Monitor For You
Should I buy a digital or manual device?
Automatic digital devices are best for home use as theyre capable of self-inflating, which makes them much easier to use than their manual counterparts. Some automatic machines can also upload information to your smartphone or computer for easy tracking over time.
How much do I need to spend?
Some blood-pressure monitors cost over £100, but you dont need to pay top dollar for accurate, consistent results. In fact, some good ones will cost you less than £20. If you pay more than that, youre usually getting additional features.
What are the most common features?
One common feature is a risk indicator, which warns you if your blood pressure reading exceeds recommended levels. Some will also alert you to heart conditions such as arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation . These are both ailments with no obvious external symptoms, so this feature could be a lifesaver.
What To Look For In A Blood Pressure Monitor
If youre in the market for a blood pressure monitor, there are several factors to take into consideration.
- Usage: Consider how often you need to measure your blood pressure, how many people will use the device, and how detailed you want your readings to be.
- App connectivity: Many devices provide internal storage or connect to an app. Find out if the app requires a monthly subscription fee and if it allows you to send your readings to a healthcare professional.
- Size: Decide which type of blood pressure monitor you want, and make sure its the correct size. An upper arm monitor might be more accurate, while a wrist device may provide convenience and additional metrics. If you plan to carry it with you, consider its portability and battery life.
- Reputable brand: Choose a monitor from a reputable brand at a price point thats within your budget. Decide which features you prefer and read customer reviews to get a balanced feel for the pros and cons.
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Blood Pressure Monitors Your Health Matters
Blood pressure gauges are medical implements to measure the systolic, and diastolic pressure levels in your body. Popularly known as blood pressure monitors, these convenient devices furnish you with accurate readings of your blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries during heart beats. Diastolic pressure measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. These are designed with a cuff which inflates, and deflates during the process of monitoring pressure. These pressure-monitoring gadgets are available in manual, and digital formats. Dr. Morepen, ELKO, Control D, Hicks and Accusure are some of the most trusted brands in the manufacture of the best blood pressure monitors. The blood pressure monitors Dr. Trust provide accurate systolic, diastolic readings, and even the pulse rate according to the WHO evaluation system. A little internet browsing will give you an idea of the blood pressure monitor prices of different brands.
Safeguard Your Health with the Best Blood Pressure Monitors
Explore Online Stores for More Details on Blood Pressure Monitor Prices
Different Types Of Blood Pressure Monitors
There are two main types of blood pressure monitors available for home use: aneroid blood pressure monitors and digital blood pressure monitors.
Aneroid monitors feature upper arm cuffs that are inflated by hand, and they contain a gauge and dial that the user reads manually. They also include a built-in stethoscope. These types of blood pressure monitors are typically less expensive than a digital one, but they do run the risk of being less accurate, especially without the assistance of another person. People with any level of hearing loss should also consider avoiding this type of monitor, as the stethoscope may be difficult to hear.
Digital monitors include a built-in gauge, stethoscope and error indicator in the unit and display blood pressure readings on a screen. Inflation and deflation of the arm cuff with these monitors occurs automatically. Some models feature color indicators to show where a blood pressure reading falls in comparison to normal ranges. Some digital monitors also come with a number of additional features, such as the ability to store readings, show average readings or display a number of readings taken within a specified time period. However, they are often more expensive than manual monitors.
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Who This Is For
Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure forces your heart to work harder, putting a burden on the rest of your body. A home blood pressure monitor is not a diagnostic device, but a tool to help you keep track of your blood pressure between checkups.
The American Heart Association defines hypertension as having either a systolic reading over 130, or a diastolic reading over 80 mm Hg for adults over the age of 20, and prehypertension as 120/80 mm Hg or above. These numbers refer to the pressure of blood against your blood-vessel walls. The first number is the systolic pressure, measured when the heart beats the second number is the diastolic pressure, measured when the heart rests between beats.
The American Heart Association and many doctors recommend a blood pressure monitor for home use to help people with high blood pressure manage the condition. The daily use of a monitor can help a person track their blood pressure and prompt them to seek emergency care. At-home monitoring is also useful for patients who experience white coat syndrome, where the stress of visiting the doctors office causes blood pressure to spike. Still, keep in mind that home monitoring is meant to accompanynot replaceregular monitoring by a physician.
How Accurate Are Blood Pressure Monitors For Home Use
Blood pressure monitors are considered accurate, with many doctors recommending them to their patients for home monitoring. Dr. Mysore suggested the following rule of thumb: if the systolic number is in the range of ten points from the reading done in the office, then your machine is deemed accurate.
Many of the doctors we spoke to also recommended patients use validatebp.org, which lists all devices that meet the American Medical Associations Validated Device Listing criteria all of the devices weve recommended here made the cut.
Recommended Reading: What Is Hypotension Blood Pressure
Validation Of Blood Pressure Monitors To International Standards
Because of the proliferation of blood pressure monitors, there has been an effort by some organisations to develop a validation criterion that amalgamates the British Hypertension criteria with others around the world into a single source. When shopping for a blood pressure monitor, you should check to see if the model has passed these international standard clinical tests.
We’ve started to list these in our test criteria and don’t recommend any blood pressure monitors that have not been validated, though we may still test some that aren’t. Regardless of whether your new blood pressure monitor is validated, we recommend you get it checked by your GP prior to use.
What About Data Privacy And Security
For most home blood pressure monitors, including our two Bluetooth picks, the companion apps and software arent subject to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act rules. This means that the data they collect isnt legally protected, nor is its use regulated in the same way as other health data .
Greater Goods and Omron, the makers of our picks, require you to create an online account in order to use their monitors wireless data-transfer capabilities. Doing so means providing the respective companies with personal details like your name, date of birth, email address, and more. Keep in mind that if you choose to send your data from the appwhether Greater Goodss Balance Health or Omron Connectto another service, such as Apple Health, youre relying on yet another entity to keep your data secure.
According to the Omron Connect apps privacy policy, Omron can share de-identified information with researchers and other third parties, and may disclose any information related to your account or use of its blood pressure monitor with law enforcement authorities in response to a court order or a subpoena. Similarly, Greater Goodss privacy policy notes that it does not share your info with researchers or other third parties, but may release account and other personal information when … appropriate to comply with the law.
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Home Blood Pressure Monitors
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Online and store prices may vary
Best Overall: Omron Upper Arm Gold Blood Pressure Monitor
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Stores 100 data sets per user
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Results available in under 30 seconds
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Only supports two users
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Bluetooth feature does not provide much additional information
What do buyers say? 90% of 2,900+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
When we looked at our most important attributes: ease of use, fit, and data display, the Omron Upper Arm Gold Blood Pressure Monitor received a five out of five in every category. We found that it was not only easy to fit and position on your arm, but it gave extremely clear, straightforward data in less than a minute.
The Omron Gold only requires two steps to set up: insert the four included AA batteries and attach the cuff to the monitor. The cuff itself is large enough to accommodate a range of arm sizes, but the most impressive feature of this device is how straightforward its instructions are. Once the cuff is around your arm, press the start button and wait for about 30 seconds until your blood pressure and heart rate reading appear on the screen.
While this monitor is great for quick readings and taking on the go , its Bluetooth feature is a bit clunky and difficult to navigate easily. We ultimately found that was a fair trade off for a device so versatile and easy to use, thus receiving our vote for Best Overall blood pressure monitor.
Average Standard Deviations
Price at time of publish: $95
Verywell Health / Nick Kova
Also Check: What Is The Largest Size Blood Pressure Cuff
Bp Monitors In India: Faqs
How Do Blood Pressure Monitors Typically Work
Typically, blood pressure monitors work by inflating a cuff until it temporarily cuts off blood flow through the brachial artery. The pressure in the cuff is then slowly released.
Within the cuff, a sensor detects blood flow. The point when the blood begins to flow intermittently through the artery is the systolic blood pressure. This is the top number on a blood pressure reading. The point when the blood flow goes from intermittent to steady is the diastolic blood pressure. This is the bottom number.
While the monitor is sensing the blood flow, it can also calculate your heart rate. Luckily, you just have to check out the final numbers and not worry about the work involved.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Normal Systolic Blood Pressure Range
Is Omron Blood Pressure Monitor Accurate
Yes, Omron blood pressure monitors are accurate and fulfill validation standards for clinical accuracy from the European Society of Hypertension.
Some Omron blood pressure monitors are listed on the Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing and have validation from the Advancement of Medical Instruments and the British Hypertension Society.
To accurately store your data, be sure to correctly set the time and date on your device.
Where To Purchase A Blood Pressure Monitor
Blood pressure monitors are readily available online with retailers like Amazon at most drugstores, such as CVS and Walgreens. Some third-party retailers like Best Buy and Walmart carry blood pressure monitors as well. In some cases, they can also be purchased directly from some manufacturer websites.
If youre unable to purchase a blood pressure monitor but are in need of a blood pressure reading, most grocery stores, drugstores and shopping malls have blood pressure machines for public use.
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How We Tested The Blood Pressure Monitors
The Verywell Health team tested 10 blood pressure monitors at The Verywell Testing Lab to see how they performed amongst a few key attributes, including setup, fit, accuracy, ease of use, data display, portability, and value. We chose these attributes because we believe that they are most aligned with the priorities of someone shopping for a blood pressure. All of the products we tested have been validated by the American Medical Association.
Our five testers, which included three Verywell Health editors and a nurse practitioner, tested 10 blood pressure monitors over the course of eight hours. Following the American Heart Associations guidelines for blood pressure monitor use, we asked our testers to fast for 30 minutes before both the morning and afternoon tests. These are the recommended times to take blood pressure readings, so we scheduled our day accordingly. Additionally, each tester sat with both feet on the ground and fit the cuff around their bare upper arm for every test.
Verywell Health / Nick Kova
Verywell Health / Nick Kova
How Exact Are At
While automatic, digital blood pressure monitors are known for being fairly accurate, there are a few factors to pay attention to in order to ensure your readings are as accurate as possible. The American Heart Association recommends not smoking, drinking caffeinated beverages or exercising at least 30 minutes before taking a blood pressure reading. Using an arm cuff that fits you properly is also important, as a cuff thats too small can artificially raise your blood pressure readings.
Maintaining a relaxed composure and good posture can also help when taking a blood pressure reading, as can ensuring youve used the bathroom recently. Additionally, the American Heart Association notes that some fluctuation in blood pressure readings is normal.
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Drive Medical Automatic Delux Blood Pressure Monitor
In contrast to the conventional measurement method through the upper arm, this device works by taking readings through the wrist cuff. Further, Its memory recall option can store up to 120 measurements readings, which is ideal for two users.
Moreover, it is the best device for your home usage as it is lightweight, compact in design, and is cheap in comparison to many models present in the market. Hence, Drive Automatic Delux BP Monitor is the best blood pressure monitor for the wrist cuff.
As measurement through the wrist cuff is a little less accurate in comparison to the upper arm cuff, you can also choose another model with an upper arm cuff and other features same.
When And Where To Get Your Blood Pressure Tested
You should have a blood pressure test if you’re worried about your blood pressure at any time.
If you’re over 40, you can have this test done as part of an NHS Health Check, which is offered to adults in England aged 40 to 74 every 5 years.
If you have been diagnosed with high or low blood pressure, or you have a high risk of developing either, you may need more frequent checks of your blood pressure.
You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:
- your local GP surgery
- some workplaces
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