a guide to blood pressure monitors for home use
here’s a handy guide to using home blood pressure monitors effectively – and what features to look for in a quality monitor.
6 minute read
experts suggest taking a repeat blood pressure reading one to three minutes after the first one, recording the readings if your monitor doesn’t keep track of them for you.
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reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. ever heard of the “white coat effect?” your blood pressure can rise when you see your doctor because you may be anxious. having a home monitoring cuff to measure your own blood pressure regularly can help you follow your readings and determine if your blood pressure is high.
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.
here’s a handy guide to using home blood pressure monitors effectively – and what features to look for in a quality monitor that you can find on amazon.
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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.
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as the mayo clinic notes, when you’re starting out, measure your blood pressure at least twice a day, in the morning and evening. wait until you’re up and ready for the day; take it before you eat breakfast, exercise or take medications. also avoid caffeine, tobacco or alcohol for 30 minutes before taking a reading. blood pressure varies throughout the day and can be a little higher in the morning. experts also suggest taking a repeat reading one to three minutes after the first one, recording the readings if your monitor doesn’t keep track of them for you.
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.
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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.
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while high-tech options aren’t necessary for your choice of blood pressure monitor, reviewers of this omron model appreciate that the bluetooth feature seamlessly connects to devices, allowing for easy data tracking and sharing. as one user notes, “the best part of this model, it has an option called trueread, which measures your bp three times, with an interval of 60 seconds and calculates the average reading, giving you an accurate number. although this function is off in default. you need to set it up. so, this one is definitely a keeper. also, this syncs with google fit that collects data from my pixel 2 watch as well.”
price: $49.99
rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (561 ratings)
physio logic blood pressure monitoring units are also recommended and validated by hypertension canada for accurate and effective monitoring for home use. the no-frills unit comes in at a lower price point, but still offers a universal size arm cuff for comfort, an extra-large display screen and saves 60 readings for two users. it has a heart rate indicator and date and time indicator – all the basics. as one reviewer says, “i love this blood pressure monitor. my daughter is an rn. she was the one who tried it on me first and said it is great and seems to be accurate. it is easy to use… it logs your readings as well. i can do it myself, and that is what i liked about it.”
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price: $35.99
rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (3,450 ratings)
if you can’t use an upper arm cuff because of fit issues, a wrist device can sub in. this model from arsimai is light and compact, and reviewed as reliable, and “easy to read and work with.”
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.
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