How Accurate Are Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

Check The Devices Clinical Validation

All blood pressure monitors sold in the USA are required to pass the FDAs approval process, aka 510 clearance, but many quality manufacturers take testing one step further by obtaining clinical validation.

Clinical validation tests are often performed by third parties to verify the accuracy of the monitors against certain criteria, meaning the monitor gives reliable and accurate results. These results are then published in peer-reviewed journals, giving an extra degree of certainty.

When you compare blood pressure monitors, make sure to select one that is clinically validated to ensure accuracy. See our clinical validation studies here.

Least Accurate: Wrist Monitors

Wrist monitors are compact and convenient, but they dont always provide the most accurate readings. Theyre generally best for travel or taking your blood pressure on the go. They can be a good way to get a quick idea of your blood pressure when you dont need an exact reading.

Wrist monitors can be helpful for people whose arms dont fit the sizing for at-home upper arm monitors. People who typically find blood pressure readings to be painful might also benefit from a wrist monitor.

Plus, theyre a good alternative for people who have trouble using an upper arm monitor due to a limited ability to move their arms and hands.

How To Best Check Your Blood Pressure At Home

No matter what type of monitor you use, you can take steps to make sure youre getting the most accurate reading possible. For accurate readings, its a good idea to:

• Make sure you know how to work your at-home monitor. Read the instructions carefully and ask a healthcare professional to show you if youre still unsure how to use it.
• Avoid cigarettes, caffeine, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before you take your blood pressure.
• Take your blood pressure at the same time every day.
• Use the bathroom and make sure your bladder is empty before you begin.
• Try to sit still for at least 5 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
• Roll up your sleeve so youre not taking your reading over clothing.
• Sit with your back straight and feet flat on the floor. Dont cross your legs.
• Rest your arm on a flat surface like a table or desk.
• Place the cuff correctly on your arm. Check the instructions again if you need a refresher.
• Take two or three readings and record them all.

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Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors Accurate

Are wrist blood pressure monitors accurate? This is a question that I set about answering some years ago. Not out of medical research curiousity but as a patient myself.

Apart from knowing the answer to the accuracy of wrist monitors, I also explain why my answer is what it is and finally Ill tell you if I recommend wrist BP monitors as a home blood pressure monitoring kit or not. Thats what you are going to get on this page.

Keep reading:

Being a doctor and someone who suffers from high blood pressure, I accidentally found the answer to the question: are wrist monitors accurate for blood pressure more out of luck rather than by design.

Its a long story. Well kind of. I have told the story here when I wrote about the pros and cons of wrist blood pressure monitors.

Why Are They Usually Inaccurate

Wrist blood pressure monitors can show inaccurate results due to the following reason

• Begin by considering how appropriate the wrist blood pressure monitor is for your wrist and body as a whole. It highly depends on how much movement your blood flow has in the arteries which can be measured over time. If it gives different readings at different times or no changes at all within a while, it can be said that it is unable to track your blood flow from arteries to the heart.
• Secondly, it would be a lack of proper knowledge to understand a wrist blood pressure monitor. If you do not understand its accuracy, it is important to first see if you understand how it generally works. What do the readings on the screen say to you, and how much do you generally understand the reading?
• Thirdly, it is because of the wrist blood pressure monitors fault itself. Sometimes the wrist blood pressure monitor can be faulty and hence show very unusual or different readings. It is highly recommended to purchase the wrist blood pressure monitor after being advised or guided properly by a doctor or medical technician who has the expertise required to understand what is wrong with the wrist blood pressure monitor you purchased.

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How To Interpret Your Blood Pressure Measurements

Your blood pressure measures how much pressure is going against your blood vessels as your heart beats.

The top number measures how much pressure is against your vessels when the heart is contracting. And the bottom number measures how much pressure is against your vessels when your heart is relaxing. Our blood pressure can change throughout the day. It often rises if we are feeling stressed, anxious, drink caffeine or have pain. These transient rises arent usually dangerous to us.

What matters most is what our blood pressure averages throughout the day.

So one high reading doesnt mean you necessarily have hypertension. This is why taking your pressures regularly and following the above 5 steps to getting an accurate reading is so important to discovering what your average blood pressure is.

Buying Guide For Best Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors

The ability to quickly and efficiently gauge blood pressure is useful for those with specific ailments like heart conditions or hypertension. Whether your doctor has requested that you take your blood pressure regularly or youre taking a proactive approach to your own well-being, its vital to choose the right unit and use it correctly in order to receive accurate readings. A wrist blood pressure monitor can be a valuable tool for monitoring your health.

While wrist monitors can be less accurate than blood pressure monitors worn around the bicep, they are more accessible and easy to use. These types of blood pressure monitors utilize battery power to take automatic readings and minimize user error.

Our buying guide below covers the pros and cons of using this type of blood pressure monitor, along with information on model pricing and tips for improving accuracy. Weve included a few of our favorites, too.

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How To Use A Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

Despite a wrist blood pressure monitors flaws, Dr. Avetian says its not a bad idea to have one at home, especially if youre a senior with a condition like hypertension . The public can get a better idea of their blood pressure range, and if there are any elevation or concerns, they can then contact their provider, he says.

If you opt for a wrist blood pressure monitor, positioning is extremely important. You need to position the monitor directly over the wrist pulse to get an accurate reading, says Dr. Kroll. Keep your wrist at heart level, supported on a table or other surfaceDr. Feda notes that holding your arm in midair can lead to a higher reading.

Dr. Feda also recommends the following before a reading:

• Wait 30 minutes after exercising, smoking, eating a salt-heavy meal or drinking anything with caffeine. These activities can temporarily increase blood pressure.
• Make sure you feel relaxed and sit in a relaxed position for five minutes.
• Sit with both feet on the ground and your back supported.
• Avoid speaking, checking social media or answering text messagesbasically anything that could lead to stress and a higher reading.
• Empty your bladder.

Feel free to take several readings, too. Often, the initial reading is higher than subsequent ones, so patients should wait at least one minute and then re-check it, says Dr. Feda.

Statistical Analysis And Data Reporting

Data analysis was performed via Bland-Altman plot analysis to assess the accuracy of the wrist cuff relative to intra-arterial measures. Systolic and diastolic validity was set a priori as any 2 measures being within 10 and 5 mm Hg, respectively . The absolute mean difference and SD of all Bland-Altman plots are reported as the bias . A one-tailed Fisher exact test was used to determine the sensitivity of the device in assessing measures of hypertension versus normotension.

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Blood Pressure Variability Assessment

To demonstrate measurement variability, a representative illustration of instantaneous intra-arterial pressures that were recorded every 10 s over a period of 4 min is shown in . Measurements varied by approximately 20 and 10 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic pressures, respectively.

Simultaneous recordings of direct and indirect blood pressures. Representative illustration of instantaneous intra-arterial blood pressures every 10 s over 4 min along with 2 simultaneous readings of wrist cuff blood pressure with SD. Wrist cuff blood pressure is acquired over approximately 1 min .

Relevant threshold comparison of peripheral and central pressures, directly and indirectly. Direct intra-arterial systolic pressure measurements from the right radial artery and ascending aorta . Indirect wrist cuff systolic pressure measurements using the peripheral algorithm and central algorithm upper arm measurements included with no possibility of a measure of uncertainty. All course of mean systolic measures with guideline and trial target thresholds. Note: gray box shows upper arm measures at risk of treatment gap based on Canadian Hypertension Education Program and Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial thresholds.

How Do I Make Sure I Am Taking A Good Reading

Now that weve gotten the background information out of the way, its time to get started!

• Sit with your back straight, your legs uncrossed, and your feet flat on the floor.
• Place the cuff on your left arm or wrist .
• For upper arm monitors, wrap the cuff around the middle of your bare upper arm, about ½ above the elbow. It should be fastened snugly, but you should be able to slide two fingers underneath the cuff. Place the air hose on the inside of the arm near the crook of your elbow so that the artery position mark is aligned with your brachial artery.
• For wrist monitors, with the palm facing upwards, attach the monitor to the inside of your wrist. Fasten securely with the top edge of the cuff aligned with the crease of your wrist.

Rest your arm on a table so cuff is at heart level.

For upper arm monitors, the cuff around your upper arm should be even with your heart. Your hand should rest on the table, palm up.

For wrist monitors, youll need to bend your elbow to bring your wrist to heart level. Positioning your wrist at heart level is critical for an accurate measurement.

Press start. During your measurement, do not talk, move, or eat. Any one of these things can impact your measurement.

Thats all there is to it!

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The Best Blood Pressure Monitor For 2021

If you’re taking your blood pressure at home, try one of these devices that meet the American Heart Association’s standards.

If you’re health-conscious, blood pressure is an important data point in painting a picture of your overall health. People who have hypertension or high blood pressure already know this, as they’re at a higher risk of experiencing heart attack or heart disease, and being aware of any unusual spikes can be life-saving. That said, everyone could benefit from keeping track of their blood pressure. After all, if you monitor your blood pressure and heart rate, you can establish a baseline you can refer to in the event of a health issue. For the unaware, normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.

Manual blood pressure monitoring devices don’t offer irregular heartbeat detection or provide your heart rate. Unless you’re a trained professional, they also may not provide the accurate reading you need when you’re looking for both your systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Even the name is complicated — who can say sphygmomanometer, anyway?

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Anyway, according to the American Heart Association, blood pressure measurement depends on two things to get an accurate result: a properly fitting blood pressure cuff and independent validation.

Beurer Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Fully Automatic Blood Pressure And Pulse Measurement With Accurate Readings Adjustable Wrist Cuff And Large Lcd Display Bc81

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Before You Measure Your Blood Pressure

• Avoid things that can raise your blood pressure in the short term. Dont measure your blood pressure within half an hour of eating, smoking, drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee, or exercising. These can all raise your blood pressure temporarily. If you need to use the toilet, go before you measure your blood pressure.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes. Wear a short-sleeved t-shirt or something with sleeves you can push up easily, nothing tight. This is so that you can fit the cuff around your arm.
• Rest for five minutes before you take your reading. Sit down somewhere quiet, ideally at a desk or table. Have your back supported with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor. Stay in this position while you take your blood pressure.
• Make sure your arm is supported and at the same level as your heart. Position yourself so that your arm is resting on a surface and is at the same height as your heart. Keep your arm and hand relaxed, not tensed.
• Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. If you are anxious or uncomfortable, your blood pressure will rise temporarily.

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S For Taking A Blood Pressure Reading With A Wrist Monitor

Before you begin the reading, sit still and relax for a few minutes. Keep your legs uncrossed.

Keep your wrist at heart level. This may be easiest to do if you keep your elbow bent and resting on a hard surface.

Most manufacturers suggest taking readings from your inner left wrist. So, orient the monitor or display so its over your inner wrist. Dont wear the monitor like a watch.

Do not move or talk during readings.

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What Equipment Do I Need To Measure My Blood Pressure At Home

To measure your blood pressure at home, you can use either an aneroid monitor or digital monitor. Choose the type of monitor that best meets your needs. Look at the following features when you select a monitor.

• Size: The right cuff size is very important. The cuff size you need is based on the size of your arm. You can ask the doctor, nurse, orpharmacist to help you. Blood pressure readings can be wrong if your cuff is the wrong size.
• Price: Cost may be a key factor. Home blood pressure units vary in price. You may want to shop around to find the best deal. Keep in mind that pricey units may not be the best or most accurate.
• Display: The numbers on the monitor should be easy for you to read.
• Sound: You must be able to hear your heartbeat through the stethoscope.

Tests show that finger and wrist devices do not always provide correct measurements. These devices are sensitive to placement and body temperature. They also are expensive and can cost more than $100.

Aneroid monitor

The aneroid monitor manually checks your blood pressure. It has a gauge that you read by looking at a pointer on the dial. The cuff goes around your upper arm and you squeeze a rubber bulb to inflate it by hand.

Digital monitor

Inflation of the cuff is either automatic or manual, depending on the model. Deflation is automatic. Digital monitors are good for hearing-impaired patients, since there is no need to listen to your heartbeat through the stethoscope.

So Are Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors Accurate

My curious search for an alternative to upper arm blood pressure monitor led me to discover the truth about wrist blood pressure monitors. The long and short of my short adventure was that the wrist blood pressure monitors are not accurate.

So, if you want to know the real answer to the question: are wrist blood pressure monitors measurements accurate? The answer is No, wrist monitors are not accurate for blood pressure measurement.

My claim is based on my personal experience of 4 different brand of wrist monitors. These wrist monitors kept giving wild blood pressure readings. Usually BP readings that would suggest I am about to have a stroke or heart attack.

With doubts in my mind as to such ridiculously high readings, I had to do a validation of the readings. Fortunately I had an upper arm monitor at home.

When I checked my blood pressure with my upper arm monitor at the same time as the wrist monitor, I had normal blood pressure.

So, whereas the wrist monitor was producing BP readings that would suggest I needed to go to ER immediately for medical attention, my upper arm monitor was giving readings that were perfectly normal.

The contrast between the wrist monitor and the upper arm monitor was as clear as the Biblical Red Sea parting for Moses and his troops to go through.

When you have recurrent episodes of false readings with different brands, it is not unreasonable to reach that conclusion that wrist monitors are not accurate for blood pressure measurements.

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