This alerts you to whether your blood pressure reading falls within recommended levels, which could be useful if you’re not having your blood pressure regularly monitored by a health professional or if you don't always remember the recommended limits. What’s more, lots of monitors sync with smartphone apps that can then provide additional data storage outside of the device itself. If you’re tech savvy and like the idea of having your blood pressure information at your fingertips to share with your physician, consider a Bluetooth-compatible monitor with app-based data storage.

Rest your arm on a table if you have one and just make sure your hand and arm are relaxed on the table. It’s important that you don’t clench your fist when you’re taking your blood pressure. 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: 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.Arrhythmia doesn't usually have symptoms, so this may be a feature you'd value in keeping an eye out for potential problems and flagging them with your GP. Blood pressure risk indicator 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 readings Blood pressure monitors display two numbers measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The first number indicates systolic pressure (pressure applied against the artery walls when the heart squeezes) while the second number indicates diastolic pressure (pressure applied against the artery walls when the heart is filling between beats). For example, if your systolic pressure is 120 and your diastolic pressure is 80, this reading will be expressed as 120/80 mmHg.

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. User error can also impact accuracy significantly, so be sure to follow the product instructions exactly as they are written. Data Storage 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. Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Accessed 9/13/2023.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.

What’s more, read and follow all product instructions when using an at-home blood pressure monitor to avoid unnecessary errors and inaccurate readings. Can At-Home Blood Pressure Monitors Give False Readings?

When considering buying a blood pressure monitor for home use, look into the following factors. Accuracy 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. FDA cleared: The Food and Drug Administration determines the device meets its criteria for blood pressure cuff devices. Superdrug offers blood pressure monitors from Braun, Kinetik Medical, Lifemax, Superdrug and Terraillon. Stergiou 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.

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. Many blood pressure monitors offer an averaging feature as well with the goal of providing an accurate depiction of your blood pressure. The devices often take three consecutive readings and average them together, accounting for any variability and giving you a single, more accurate data set. There are two main types of blood pressure monitors available for home use: aneroid (manual) blood pressure monitors and digital blood pressure monitors. This is a useful extra that will tell you whether you have an arrhythmia: a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Some blood pressure monitors collect and store readings for one user, and some can do this for as many as six people.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?