Some patients are told by their physicians to have their blood pressure checked regularly, while others take the initiative and want to monitor it themselves. Daily visits to a specialist for this purpose are impractical, and blood pressure monitors in public places such as pharmacies can give inaccurate readings due to not being calibrated often enough. In this case, you will need a blood pressure monitor that you can use at home. Many different models are produced, but which tonometer is better? Price, accuracy and functionality largely determine the choice of the user, and this article should help you find the best option.
Types of blood pressure monitors
Shoulder blood pressure monitors with a flexible or semi-rigid cuff that wraps around the upper arm are most reminiscent of a device that can be seen in a doctor's office. Wearers sometimes have a hard time getting them on the arm properly, but devices of this type allow for a natural sitting position and are generally the least demanding of the user's position.
Those who are hurt by the shoulder cuffinconvenience, or who have trouble finding the right size, can use the wrist model. However, this type of blood pressure instrument requires precise positioning - the wrist must be held at the level of the heart. If you deviate only a few centimeters or move while the device is operating, the results will be incorrect. The good news is that the best wrist monitors have indicator lights to help you find the correct position.
A handy he alth monitoring tool
Determination of blood pressure at home is not a substitute for medical advice. But when combined with a doctor's measurements, it can be a powerful tool for monitoring your he alth. All home blood pressure monitors mentioned in this article are automatic digital models. They themselves inflate the cuff and take readings, usually at the touch of a button. The whole process takes 30-50 seconds.
How to get accurate readings?
Regardless of the device used, experts recommend visiting a specialist to compare measurements with the results of measurements of professional medical equipment. This provides a baseline for determining how accurate and consistent a home blood pressure monitor is.
In addition, to obtain the correct readings, you must read the manufacturer's instructions and follow them carefully. A home tonometer has not yet been created, the accuracy of which would not be complained about, but we can confidently say that often incorrectthe results are due to violation of the rules for taking measurements.
Distinguishing features of good blood pressure monitors
When choosing which blood pressure monitor is best for your home, you should make sure that it has the following:
- Easy to use buttons and easy to read display. Some models offer extra-large screens, illuminated buttons and voice-readable readings. Bluetooth-connected home blood pressure monitors allow you to read the results from the smartphone screen or speak them out loud.
- Algorithm for detection and compensation of arrhythmia. For those who choose which tonometer is better, reviews recommend a device that warns of arrhythmia and compensates for it so that it does not distort the readings of the device.
- Correct cuff. If its coverage does not correspond to the circumference of the hand or wrist, then accurate readings cannot be achieved. Some models allow you to change cuffs so that different people can use the same device.
- Correct pressure. A short squeeze of the hand is indispensable, but the user's sensations will help determine which tonometer is better. Good models do this relatively gently, without making a simple measurement a painful experience.
- Great memory. The best blood pressure monitors store at least 90 readings in memory. This is enough for daily registration for 3 months.
- Multiple accounts. If several people use the same blood pressure monitor, then each of them needs their own account forreading and calculating averages. This separation can also be used to record readings taken on the right and left arm.
- Useful feedback. Some sphygmomanometers color-code or flash measurements to indicate whether readings are in the he althy, borderline, or unhe althy ranges. This makes it easy to assess the level of blood pressure.
- Averaging function. According to the experts, averaging the results of measurements recorded over a certain period of time can give a better picture of the state of the cardiovascular system than individual isolated data.
- Help with correct positioning. Carpal blood pressure monitors give accurate readings when held in the correct position, and learning how to do this can be difficult. The best models are equipped with flashing lights or other feedback devices to help you position your arm properly.
Things to understand
Which automatic blood pressure monitor is best for a trip? The one that comes with a case or bag and can run on either battery or AC adapter.
Which automatic blood pressure monitor is best for sharing? If there is more than one user, then you should buy a monitor with multiple accounts so that readings can be stored separately, or a model that does not save them automatically so that the logs do not contain mixed measurements.
Which blood pressure monitor is betteruse to export data? There are more and more models that allow you to send a log of indications to your doctor. If this function is not used, then you can save by choosing a simpler device.
Which blood pressure monitor is best suited for visually impaired people? The one with a large, backlit screen, large buttons, simple controls, and spoken readings.
Helpful tips
Experts recommend showing the blood pressure monitor to your doctor so that he can compare the measurement results with the data of a high-precision professional blood pressure monitor. This procedure should be repeated every 6 months, immediately after the device has been dropped or if there is a sudden sharp change in readings.
If you are having trouble getting reliable readings, ask your doctor to check your blood pressure monitor technique and follow cardiologists' recommendations that you should not smoke, drink caffeinated drinks, or exercise 30 minutes before using the device. Ideally, sit quietly and rest for at least 5 minutes before taking readings.
Prospects of technology
The blood pressure monitors are becoming more and more common, transmitting data directly to the application on the smartphone. Just a few years ago this was new technology, but now it is on the verge of becoming a standard feature. Like most wireless technologies, it will soon be the norm in models at all price levels.
Automatic blood pressure monitors: which one is better?
Owner reviews Of all upper arm blood pressure monitors, the Omron BP786N with a 23-43 cm cuff is the most popular. This model is easy to use and very accurate. Useful features of Omron BP786N are:
- built-in calibration check system;
- TruRead mode, which takes 3 consecutive readings at intervals of 1 minute and then displays the average value;
- detector of irregular heart rate;
- 2 user accounts with 100 readings memory.
However, the most impressive feature of the BP786N is its wireless connectivity to iOS and Android mobile devices. Once you download the free Omron Wellness app, you can access your data from anywhere and can share it or import it into the Apple He alth app. A smartphone can also be used to read the results aloud. This is a very useful feature for people with limited vision or those who are better at hearing information.
Despite these features, you don't need a smartphone or tablet to use the Omron BP786. Many appreciate the simplicity of the device: all you need to do is press the bright Start/Stop button. The large backlit screen is easy to read even for people with low vision.
Omron BP786N owner reviews are almost all positive, although they are not so clear about its wireless capabilities: the device pairs quickly and easily with iOS devices, but it may take several attemptsconnections to Android devices, not all of which are supported.
Some complain that the blood pressure monitor gives too high readings. Although these complaints are relatively few compared to other manufacturers, they are a good reminder to follow the recommendations of cardiologists and check the accuracy of measurements with a doctor.
The blood pressure monitor is covered by a 5-year warranty and can be powered by an AC adapter and 4 x AA batteries.
There are other great options. For people who require large cuff sizes (42-62 cm), the LifeSource UA-789AC is the best choice.
Which blood pressure monitor has the best price? According to reviews, inexpensive, but accurate and reliable models are ReliOn BP200 (2300 rubles) and Panasonic EW3109W (2550 rubles).
A&D 767F, which supports 4 user profiles, is the most suitable blood pressure monitor for the whole family.
Wrist blood pressure monitors: which one is better?
Some users find it difficult to find the right cuff size, and others find the whole process of squeezing the arm very uncomfortable. In this case, a wrist sphygmomanometer is the way to go, and most people find it much more comfortable.
The biggest disadvantage of these types of monitors is that the user must position them to get accurate and consistent readings every time. The Omron BP652N makes this job easy with an indicator light that signals correct positioning: orange when the monitor isis oriented incorrectly and blue when its position is correct. You can also set the sound signals.
According to reviews, the tonometer is very accurate. However, this depends on how well the user follows the guidance of the position control system.
BP652N stores up to 100 readings with date and time, warns of arrhythmia, automatically assigns readings to internationally recommended ranges, and can average up to three readings measured within 10 minutes. Includes case and 5-year warranty.
Owners are positive about the comfort of use, although some are disappointed with the latest update, which replaced the semi-rigid cuff, which was easy to put on and take off, with an elastic one. However, most people think that this device is much more comfortable than shoulder models.
According to reviews, other good carpal blood pressure monitors are Omtron BP629N and Ozeri BP01K.
