It is a well-known fact that uncontrolled blood pressure leads to heart failure, heart attack, stroke and renal failure. You can avoid all these by optimal control of your blood pressure with the help of a BP monitor. Even mild-to-moderate increase in BP could lead to organ damage over a period of time.
Many people tend to ignore mild-to-moderate hypertension until they develop symptoms of accelerated hypertension or hypertensive emergency/urgency and need to be rushed to the ER. One should realise that stable uncontrolled hypertension can easily flare up to an emergency at anytime. Thus, it is important to check your BP frequently.
Now that you are aware of what might happen if you don’t control your BP, the first step would be to buy a blood pressure monitor and begin monitoring at home. You still should keep your regular doctor visits, this will help ensure you are making the right lifestyle choices. Below listed are some of the top BP monitors that you could consider using at home.
| Affiliate Disclosure: Essentialspoint.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
- The Omron HEM 7120 is a compact and easy-to-use blood pressure monitor that delivers precise measurements of blood pressure & pulse rate and quick results.
- Fits Arm Circumference (22-32cm) device uses IntelliSense technology for accurate measurements, with a comfortable and controlled inflation process. No need for pressure pre-setting or re-inflation.
- This product monitors blood pressure and detects irregular heartbeat. It notifies with a blink if pressure is outside the standard range (above 135 systolic/85 diastolic mmHg) and includes a body movement indicator.
- The Omron HEM-7120: 3-year warranty, lifetime support, household use, meets standards, important safety information in manual, Hypertension Indicator.
- Warranty Description: 3 Year; Color Name: White; Unit Count: 1 ; Item Weight: 0.56 KG ; Unit Count Type: Count; Batteries Required: True; Display Type: Lcd
- Hypertension Indicator
- Intelli Sense Technology.Minimum Pressure Measurement Range 0 mmHg. Maximum Pressure Measurement Range 299 mmHg
- Easy one touch Operations
- Large Display screen
- Memory for Last reading
- Comfort Inflation Tehcnology
- Hypertension Indication
- Memory Storage Function
- Irregular Heartbeat Detection
- Accurate & Simple
- Omron Smart Elite+ HEM-7600T Blood Pressure Monitor with Intellisense Technology and Intelli Wrap cuff comes with the latest tubeless technology, 360 degree Accuracy and simple to use one-touch measurement. HEM-7600T makes it easy to get an accurate and consistent picture of your heart's health, wherever you are.
- Ergonomically designed perfectly with storage capacity and smartphone connectivity, Smart Elite+ HEM-7600T fits precisely into your life.
- The Omron Smart Elite+ HEM-7600T - All around accuracy, Smartphone connectivity, Ultra portable, easy to use, Detects Irregular heartbeat, Detects body movement.
- Intellisense Technology - Fast, accurate & comfortable measurement that adapts you. e) Intelli Wrap cuff - Snaps onto your arm easily, allowing accurate readings 360 degrees all around.
- Color Name: Black; Unit Count Type: Count; Unit Count: 1; Item Weight: Kg 0.24; Batteries Required: True
- The Omron HEM 7361T is a compact and easy-to-use blood pressure monitor that delivers precise measurements of blood pressure & pulse rate. it can easily detect irregular heart beat and display it with AFIB indicator.
- Fits Arm Circumference (22-32cm) device uses Enhanced IntelliSense technology for accurate measurements, with a comfortable and controlled inflation process. No need for pressure pre-setting or re-inflation.
- This product monitors blood pressure and detects irregular heartbeat. It notifies with a blink if pressure is outside the standard range (above 135 systolic/85 diastolic mmHg) and includes a body movement indicator and Hypertension Indicator.
- The Omron HEM-7361T: 3-year warranty, lifetime support, household use, meets standards, important safety information in manual, Hypertension Indicator, Cuff Wrapping Guide, Dual Check System and Average of last 3 readings.
- Batteries Required: True; Item Weight: g 400; Unit Count: 1; Unit Count Type: Count; Warranty Description: 3 Year
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
There are many types of blood pressure monitors available for you to use. You could use an aneroid monitor that has a dial gauge and uses a pointer to read or you could use a digital monitor with the option of a manual or automatic cuff. With a digital monitor your reading will flash on the screen. Some of you may be aware of finger or wrist monitor, but these have been proven less effective and are not as accurate.
Table of Contents
Why you should keep a blood pressure reading record?
Keeping a record of your blood pressure readings is a must. By doing this, you will come to know what is working and what isn’t in lowering or maintaining your blood pressure. One or two elevated blood pressure readings in the doctor’s office do not mean that you have hypertension.
Some of you might have white-coat hypertension, meaning your blood pressure is high in the hospital setting, but most times normal at home. The reason for this brief spike in blood pressure could be that you were tense or anxious when seeing the doctor. Here home blood pressure monitoring could be of immense help in diagnosing whether you are really hypertensive or not. So, what you have to do is write down the readings both morning and evening (fix the timing of your choice, but see that you take the reading at the appropriate time each day, maintain consistency) for a week or two and take it to your doctor and he/she will decide the treatment thereafter.
Why it is important to choose an ideal-fitting blood pressure cuff?
When choosing your blood pressure monitor, you have to choose the one that has the right cuff size for you. If you are not sure about this, ask your doctor. This is important as the cuff may be too big or too small and the readings generated could be wrong; so choose a cuff which is ideal for you. If you are not sure how to use the BP machine or placing the cuff correctly, talk with your doctor. They can show you how to use it correctly. Using it the right way will ensure you get the right reading.
What to do before taking a blood pressure reading?
- You should not drink or use any caffeine, alcohol or any tobacco products 30 minutes prior to checking as all these can increase blood pressure.
- Empty your urinary bladder before you take a reading. A full or distended bladder can increase blood pressure.
- You got to relax and please don’t talk for at least 3 to 5 minutes before taking a blood pressure reading.
- Be seated in a comfortable position. Keep your back straight and do not cross your legs or arms while taking a reading.
- When you strap the cuff on, make sure your arm is at the same level of your heart. Rest it on a table or solid surface. The cuff should be snugly fit and not too tight around your arm. You should be able to put at least a finger in-between your arm and the cuff. The bottom of the BP cuff should be an inch from the crease of your elbow.
A normal blood pressure would be a reading of 120/80 or less. Take more than one reading 2 to 5 minutes apart just to make sure the readings are correct. Once your reading is higher than 140/90, you need to get it down either through lifestyle modifications or through medications. If the reading is consistently elevated, for example 180/90 or 180/100, this needs immediate attention. Call your family doctor or go to the nearest ER immediately.
Benefits of home blood pressure monitoring
- Facilitates optimal control of blood pressure.
- Helps in diagnosing hypertension, whether you are truly hypertensive or you have white-coat hypertension.
- Helps protect your heart and other organs from irreversible damage; a well-controlled blood pressure means better health.
- Better control of blood pressure keeps you healthy, reduce hospitalisation cost, save money, increase longevity.