One of the most important aspects of a blood pressure monitor is its ability to provide consistently accurate readings. Look for the following three phrases in product descriptions when trying to determine the accuracy of the monitor: Display is another important factor, especially for older adults with vision impairments. Look for a blood pressure monitor device with a clear, simple and easy-to-read display screen to prevent misunderstanding your blood pressure readings. If your vision is highly compromised, some devices offer audio readouts as well. Usability When considering buying a blood pressure monitor for home use, look into the following factors. Accuracy But if you are a dab hand at Microsoft Excel, you could equally summarise your data with a spreadsheet or even using an old-fashioned pen and paper. Irregular heartbeat detector

But if you're good at monitoring this yourself, you might not want to pay extra for fancier features to keep an eye on whether your blood pressure is within recommended limits. A blood pressure monitor won’t be helpful (and you probably won’t use it very often) if it doesn’t feel intuitive. Consider the way the monitor lays out information, where buttons are placed, how easy it is to place the cuff correctly on your arm and whether those details feel natural to you. Special Features As our buying guide video above explains, there are two types of blood pressure monitors: those with a cuff on your upper arm, or those with a cuff on the wrist. But what's the difference between the two? There are two main types of blood pressure monitors available for home use: aneroid (manual) blood pressure monitors and digital blood pressure monitors. For more details on blood pressure ranges, have a look at our guide – Blood pressure ranges explained - and how to measure yours. Blood pressure monitors that store past readingsStergiou G, Alpert B, Mieke S, et al. A Universal Standard for the Validation of Blood Pressure Measuring Devices: Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/European Society of Hypertension/International Organization for Standardization (AAMI/ESH/ISO) Collaboration Statement. J Hypertens. 2018;36(3):472–478. Most digital blood pressure monitors are reliable for at-home use, and the one that is most accurate for you will be one that you can use correctly, comfortably and consistently at home. It’s also important to consider whether the monitor is clinically validated and cleared by the FDA, which confirms it meets all the necessary requirements for accuracy.

You’ll feel the cuff inflate quite rapidly. It may temporarily be a bit tender or uncomfortable for, as the cuff inflates and deflates automatically, but this will only be for a short period of time. If it is too tender/uncomfortable you can just press the ‘Stop’ button and the cuff will instantly deflate. Some blood pressure monitors have a data averaging function – this usually means the machine will average the last three or so readings for you. There are variations on this – for example, showing data on a graph rather than, or as well as, numerically or averaging data over a longer period. Discover which retailers are trusted by Which? members with our expert guide on the best and worst shops. Blood pressure monitors in the Which? test lab

Maintaining a relaxed composure and good posture can also help when taking a blood pressure reading, as can ensuring you’ve used the bathroom recently. Additionally, the American Heart Association notes that some fluctuation in blood pressure readings is normal. What Is the Most Accurate At-Home Blood Pressure Monitor? Wrist blood pressure monitors tend to be lighter and therefore more portable when travelling. These models also take up less storage space in your home. However, they are more prone to giving inaccurate readings as your wrist isn't naturally at heart height. User error can also impact accuracy significantly, so be sure to follow the product instructions exactly as they are written. Data Storage Place the cuff over your upper arm and tighten the cuff over your arm, making sure you can fit two fingers underneath the cuff. You want the cuff to be over the upper part of your arm with the tubing leading down the centre or slightly to the right of your arm.

The ability to store readings can be useful if you have more than one person with hypertension in your household or want to pool your money for a model with fancier features, rather than have two basic monitors.Blood pressure is a crucial metric that can assist you in determining your risk of a variety of health concerns. However, the often unnoticeable side effects of high blood pressure (or hypertension) make it tough to know when intervention is needed, which is why this condition is commonly called “the silent killer.” An at-home blood pressure monitor can help you keep a closer eye on this crucial health metric. By taking your own blood pressure readings regularly and documenting changes over time, you can be better equipped to manage your health for the long haul. Aneroid monitors feature upper arm cuffs that are inflated by hand, and they contain a gauge and dial that the user reads manually. They also include a built-in stethoscope. These types of blood pressure monitors are typically less expensive than a digital one, but they do run the risk of being less accurate, especially without the assistance of another person. People with any level of hearing loss should also consider avoiding this type of monitor, as the stethoscope may be difficult to hear. Digital blood pressure monitors feature a gauge, stethoscope and error indicator in one device. Some cuffs inflate automatically while others require the user to use a pump to inflate the cuff manually, temporarily cutting off blood flow to the arm. The cuff then automatically deflates, allowing blood to flow around the artery in the arm once again. The vibration of this blood flow is detected by the monitor, prompting it to record the systolic blood pressure reading. As it deflates further and these vibrations stop, the monitor records a diastolic blood pressure reading. These blood pressure readings are displayed on the device’s screen. Depending on the device, a color indicator may appear to show how the reading compares with normal blood pressure readings. How to Read a Blood Pressure Monitor