a guide to blood pressure monitors for home use

it’s important. high blood pressure, or hypertension, is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major contributing risk factor for heart disease. and heart disease is the second leading cause of death in canada after cancer, and one of the top reasons people end up in hospital, says the public health agency of canada .

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bios diagnostic blood pressure monitor

price: $69.98
rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (202 ratings)

easy to use and easy to read are two things you need in a home blood pressure monitor that you will use regularly. the basic parts are a gauge for readouts and an inflatable cuff with an inner layer that fills with air and squeezes your arm, and an outer layer with a fastener to hold it in place. how does it work? the device calculates your heart rate and blood flow by measuring the changes in the motion of your artery as blood flows through while the cuff deflates. a great tip from the mayo clinic is to take your home device to your healthcare provider so they can check for its accuracy by comparing it to your readings from the monitor in the medical office. you also want to make sure it fits properly on your upper arm – size matters for accurate readings. digital monitors that are fitted properly on the upper arm are considered the most accurate.

this monitor from the canadian company bios is recommended by hypertension canada , a national organization dedicated to advancing research on high blood pressure and educating both the public and healthcare providers on high blood pressure risks, detection and control. the unit stores 90 readings for two users, and also averages all readings, including the average for morning readings and evening readings, which tend to be different.

best practice is to have a routine, heart and hypertension specialist dr. luke laffin tells the cleveland clinic. “blood pressure fluctuates a lot during the day, so you’re most likely to get useful data if you test at roughly the same times every day,” he says. “testing once a day won’t give you or your doctor the same kind of insight that you’ll get from checking several times a day at consistent times.”

know your numbers! as heart and stroke points out , there are three blood pressure categories: low risk (120/80), medium risk (121-134/80-84) and high risk (135+/85+) where you may need medication and lifestyle adjustments to bring numbers down. if you have diabetes, however, your blood pressure should be less than 130/80.

omron bp7455can blood pressure monitor with bluetooth and upper arm easy-wrap comfit cuff

price: $89.99
rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (623 ratings)

another key feature of a home monitoring machine is comfort. this unit by omron, a trusted company with monitors validated by hypertension canada, has a comfortable and secure fitting cuff that doesn’t require adjustment straps. it also has a simple “one-touch” operation with a large display of numbers. you want ease and comfort because positioning your body matters. the cleveland clinic notes the importance of your posture and relaxing. you need to sit up with your back supported and make sure your arm is raised to your heart level, supported by a cushion or armrest. put your feet flat on the floor. then relax for five minutes before turning on the monitor, so avoid talking with friends or checking your phone or anything that could bring on stress or excitement because it can affect the accuracy of the reading.

other how-tos for accurate readings are using the same arm each time, removing bulky or tight clothing from your arm completely, and making sure the cuff is snug around your bare upper arm where two fingers should fit between the cuff and your arm. the edge of the cuff must be 3cm above your elbow. and go to the bathroom first! needing to urinate can actually raise your blood pressure. heart and stroke produced an excellent video to do the home test properly .

physio logic essentia automatic blood pressure monitor with universal arm cuff

price: $49.99
rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (561 ratings)

arsimai blood pressure monitor – wrist accurate automatic high blood pressure monitors portable lcd screen with storage case and adjustable cuff

price: $35.99
rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (3,450 ratings)

home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for medical visits, cautions the mayo clinic. “even if you get readings that are typical for you, don’t stop or change your medications or your diet without talking to your care provider first. however, if continued home monitoring shows your blood pressure is under control, you might be able to make fewer medical visits.”

and monitoring at home can be part of your overall health strategy to protect your heart – including a healthy diet that is lower in salt and saturate fat, eating foods high in potassium such as fresh fruits, vegetables, beans and lentils (unless you’re taking medication that interacts with potassium), managing stress, being physically active for at least 150 minutes each week, being smoke-free and limiting alcohol. find out more at heart and stroke.