When it comes to high blood pressure, having a blood pressure monitor at home is critical. Monitoring your blood pressure with a home blood pressure monitor can be a great way to see how your blood pressure changes throughout the day. More so, it is easier to detect irregular heartbeats right at home.
White coat syndrome patients may benefit from at-home monitoring. Their blood pressure rises just thinking about going to the doctor’s office. Remember, though, that home monitoring is meant to go hand in hand with regular monitoring by a physician, not to replace it.
If you want accurate results, make sure you’re using the right monitor and technique. We have selected two excellent Blood Pressure monitors for home use. This is because they are convenient, easy to use and have a long service life. We based this guide on adult-specific home blood pressure monitors.
Since automatic-inflating cuff upper-arm monitors are easier and more convenient for most people to use, we chose to concentrate on them. Blood pressure monitors are only as good as their accuracy, and this is critical. The blood pressure machine (also known as a sphygmomanometer) and the size of the cuff determine this. If the cuff is the wrong size, your reading will be incorrect. Also, keep in mind that the conditions under which you measure your blood pressure—from the time of day to your body position to whether or not you’ve had caffeine—can affect your readings, regardless of the machine.
Home blood pressure monitors are accurate enough for the vast majority of people. That’s why getting consistent readings with the same, reliable device is more important than getting an exact reading every time is crucial for tracking blood pressure trends over time. (Use, care, and maintenance has helpful hints for getting reliable results.)
Here is what advised our judgement
- Cuff size and design
It’s easier to manipulate cuffs that you can slip your arm through and then tighten yourself than it is to wrap your arm around a cuff. It’s important to have an adjustable cuff because an accurate reading is dependent on it being the right size.
- Data storage of device
On-device data storage is required to monitor health trends over time. We looked for devices that could store readings for at least a few weeks (and considered whether a given machine could store readings for more than one person).
- Irregular detection of heartbeat
Consistently irregular pulse readings should be discussed with your doctor, so it was an added benefit if a monitor could pick them up.
- Ease of screen reading
We prioritized backlit screens because they’re easier to see in dimly lit areas.
- Power source
When it comes to power sources, some monitors are rechargeable via USB, while others use replaceable batteries or an AC adapter (or both).