Written by Megan Smith, PT
Every time you visit the doctor’s office, it’s likely someone takes your blood pressure.
Since blood pressure can fluctuate, the reading in the exam room might not provide a complete picture. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most common preventable cause of heart disease, and it’s necessary to have accurate blood pressure numbers to effectively diagnose, treat, and track heart issues. About 20 percent of the people who have hypertension aren’t even aware of it, and only find out after a routine reading during a doctor visit.
Keeping track of blood pressure with a blood pressure monitor at home helps provide a more accurate assessment than the occasional check at the doctor’s office. This is especially true with conditions that can contribute to high blood pressure like kidney problems and diabetes. Even pain or a common illness can cause a spike in your blood pressure, which is easier to track with more frequent readings. Some people’s anxiety at being in a doctor’s office can elevate their blood pressure too, so an office visit isn’t always the best place to get the best reading.
Having a blood pressure monitor at home cuts down on office visits for blood pressure checks and can instantly equip you with useful information.
An upper arm monitor fits around your arm above your elbow and is held in place with velcro. The inner liner inflates, and when it fills with air it squeezes your arm. As it deflates, it measures the changes in your artery as blood flows through it, which creates the reading. Newer electronic versions are more user friendly than previous manual versions, and will automatically display the digital reading.
Measuring blood pressure on the upper arm isn’t always feasible. This could be due to an injury to the upper arms or there might not be a cuff big enough to wrap around the upper arm. Taking blood pressure just below the elbow has been proven to be an accurate and reliable method of measurement.
Whether an appropriately sized arm cuff isn’t available or you just want the simplest way to check your blood pressure, home blood pressure monitors that wrap around the wrist rather than the upper arm are very user-friendly. Small and easy to travel with, wrist blood pressure monitors are generally more comfortable than the upper arm version and are very simple to operate.
A cuff that fits properly is the most important consideration when choosing a blood pressure home monitor. If the cuff doesn’t fit, it won’t provide accurate measurements. Wrist monitors are generally the easiest for most people to find a good fit, followed by forearm monitors, then upper arm versions. If you are in doubt, ask your health care provider what kind and size you should purchase.
A monitor that is user friendly is more likely to be used, and used correctly. It should also fit into your daily routine, so it needs to be convenient to keep close by, easy to put on, simple to read, and it shouldn’t take too much time to tell you what you need to know. Storing readings in memory is a valuable tool for tracking, so being able to call up previous readings for an instant comparison over time is helpful to monitor trends.
An accurate home blood pressure monitor is necessary to make sure you’re getting valid readings. If you question the accuracy of your blood pressure monitor, bring it with you to the doctor and have it validated against the one in your health care provider’s office.
 | 1) Deluxe Automatic Upper-Arm Blood Pressure Monitor by Drive Medical View Product |
The first entry at number 5 on our list of top choices is the Digital Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor, which provides an extremely quick and accurate blood pressure reading. Produced by Medline, this wrist blood pressure monitor is easy to put on and it automatically inflates and deflates. In addition to measuring systolic and diastolic pressure, it also records pulse rate. It has a color gauge that makes the display easy to read and it will save the date and time to help track trends. It runs on two AAA batteries, which are included, and it will comfortably fit wrists measuring 5.5 inches to 7.7 inches around.
If you are looking for a simple model that is easy to put on and provides fast reading, this wrist monitor is a great choice.
At number 4 on our list is the Automatic Forearm Blood Pressure Monitor by HealthSmart. This cordless battery-powered device is powerful as well as portable, and comes with a handy carrying case. In addition to monitoring blood pressure, it can detect irregular heartbeats. It automatically averages the prior three readings and shows healthy blood pressure parameters for users to compare with their own. With a backlit screen that’s easy to read, this forearm blood pressure monitor can be used in any lighting. It comes with four AA batteries and the forearm cuff can accommodate a circumference of 11 ¾ inches to 16 ½ inches. Its memory holds up to 120 readings, 60 each for two people.
For a “big picture” view, this monitor’s memory and comparison readings provide valuable trend tracking information from a device that’s accurate and easy to position on the forearm.
The number 3 entry on our list of top home blood pressure monitors is the feature-packed 7 Series Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor by Omron. This unit syncs with the Omron Wellness smart phone app to display the previous 120 readings (up to 60 each for two people) in a graph to track trends. It also has a guest mode for single use, which doesn’t store the reading. This upper arm monitor is created using advanced technology to ensure accuracy and a dual LCD screen that is easy to read. The ComFit Cuff is comfortable and easy to wrap around the upper arm. When minute-by-minute tracking is needed, the 7 Series Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor will display the previous three readings in a 10-minute period. It also detects and alerts when movement can possibly skew results. This full-feature wireless model fits upper arms ranging from 9 to 17 inches. It is compact, easy to store, and can be used anywhere.
If you appreciate the latest technology and being able to track blood pressure trends via smart phone, this comfortably designed full-feature upper-arm model delivers.
The Talking Blood Pressure Monitor by LSS has claimed the number 2 spot in our top 5 list of home blood pressure monitors. This high tech device utilizes TriCheck to average three consecutive readings, which provides more accurate results. It relies on 3A technology for advanced cuff pressurization and deflation to provide fast and accurate results. Record keeping is made easy with a time and date stamp, and it can store up to 90 readings to assist in pattern tracking. It can detect an irregular heartbeat and it will compare the blood pressure reading to what falls in the healthy range. This home blood pressure monitor’s audio feature will tell you the blood pressure reading in English, Spanish, and French. It comes with an AC adapter and a carrying case. The cuff will comfortably fit on upper arms from 9” to 14.6” in circumference.
Although this monitor works for anyone who is seeking accurate readings and a solid mechanism for tracking trends, its audio feature is especially helpful for anyone who is blind or has low vision.
Claiming the top spot on our top 5 list is the Deluxe Automatic Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. Made by Drive Medical, one of the most respected names in the health equipment industry, this simple-to-use one-touch blood pressure monitor is packed with features. Its easy-to-read extra large display detects blood pressure, irregular heart beat, and pulse rate. The portable design and travel case make this device ready to take anywhere. It will turn itself off to save battery life, and it comes with an AC adapter.
It has been proven to be as accurate as a reading taken by a trained professional using a cuff and stethoscope method of measurement. It has a date and time tracker for recording trends, it averages the previous three results, and it will store up to 60 readings each for two people taken with a cuff that fits arms ranging from 8 ½ to 14 inches in circumference.
This professional grade monitor is the top choice on our list. Its portability makes it convenient and its user friendly design makes it easy to operate properly. It has a long list of features that enable it to deliver very accurate readings while providing a detailed overall picture.
Nearly half of the adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and the ability to monitor the condition from home is an important part of effective treatment. Checking and tracking your blood pressure at home doesn't have to be complicated or bothersome. Blood pressure monitoring at home is cost-effective, convenient, and provides valuable data to help determine if treatment options are working. Tracking measurements and noting trends over time impacts decisions regarding types and dosages of medications and could help you avoid complications and enjoy better health.
Blood pressure is expressed with two numbers. The top, systolic pressure, is the measurement of the amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts. The bottom, diastolic pressure, is the measurement of the pressure when the heart is in between beats. Both numbers are important, and if they are above the ideal range, the reading indicates your heart is working too hard.
Home blood pressure readings can fluctuate from 5 to 15 percent, but they are still a valuable monitoring tool. Blood pressure measurements, no matter how they are taken, can vary throughout the day depending on everything from movement to meals to moods. Every monitoring method should include multiple readings so an average can be determined.
Wrist blood pressure monitors are most accurate when the instructions for their use are followed exactly. These monitors are sensitive to body position, and to get an accurate reading the arm and wrist have to be held at heart level.
Most home blood pressure monitors will last between two and three years.
Megan has been a part of Rehabmart since its inception nearly 20 years ago. For the past several years she has been enjoying her role as HR Director while maintaining her Physical Therapy license. When she isn't working on her next in-service or working to find a new team member, she enjoys her five children, helping those who have PT type ailments, baking, practicing yoga, and working out.
