5 of the best blood pressure monitors

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Quick look links

• For app display, recording, and tracking: QardioArm smart blood pressure monitor
• For multiple users: Wellue AirBP
• For a 2-month battery life: RESPeRATE Ultra
• For a blood pressure and glucose monitor: FORA D20 2-in-1 monitor
• For a blood pressure and EKG monitor: Omron Complete wireless monitor

At-home blood pressure monitors are commercial devices that measure a person’s blood pressure away from a medical facility. The devices can help a person monitor hypertension, which is high blood pressure, or other conditions.

Although some individuals may find at-home monitors helpful, a 2015 review of studies noted that models for home use are often inaccurate. The inaccuracies are due, in part, to user error, such as placing the arm cuff in an incorrect position. However, the researchers pointed out that newer models help prevent such errors, increasing accuracy.

In a study from 2016, researchers looked at the performance of blood pressure monitors that 210 people used over several years. They found that inaccuracies were common.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that a person take certain steps to help improve the accuracy of blood pressure monitoring at home. These include:

• sitting up straight with the legs and arms supported
• remaining as still as possible
• taking the measurement at about the same time each day
• taking two or three readings each time and recording the results
• placing the cuff on a bare arm rather than on top of clothing

Why and how are they useful?

A doctor may ask a person to monitor their blood pressure at home for various reasons. Often, a doctor may recommend home blood pressure monitoring if a person has hypertension or is prehypertensive. The doctor may wish to see how the person’s blood pressure responds to daily stressors and medications.

The AHA recommends home blood pressure monitoring in many instances, including for those who are:

• living with high blood pressure
• pregnant
• starting new blood pressure medication
• at risk of developing high blood pressure or related disorders
• getting unusually high readings at the doctor’s office, as this could be “white coat syndrome“

There are several potential factors to consider when selecting a blood pressure monitor for home use. A person’s doctor can likely recommend monitors that they believe work well and display accurate readings.

The AHA also recommends using a machine that can store or transmit readings directly to a person’s doctor.

Other factors to consider before making a purchase include:

• ease of use
• data tracking and storing
• cost
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval or third party approval

Here, we look at some blood pressure monitors that a person may consider using at home.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information is purely research-based.

QardioArm smart blood pressure monitor

QardioArm offers an FDA-approved blood pressure monitor that connects to a mobile app to display, record, and track results.

The product features:

• charts, graphs, and information to help a person understand their results
• reminders and notifications to help remind a person to check their blood pressure
• free shipping
• 60-day money-back guarantee
• 1-year warranty

Wellue AirBP

Wellue AirBP offers a blood pressure cuff that displays and tracks data on a person’s smartphone or another electronic device. The blood pressure cuff is FDA-approved.

Some other features include:

• connects to an app to track and display data
• rechargeable batteries
• durable and portable
• supports unlimited users

RESPeRATE Ultra

RESPeRATE Ultra is an FDA-approved blood pressure monitoring tool.

The monitor features:

• single-user use
• money-back guarantee
• financing option
• LCD display
• 2-month battery life with regular use

FORA D20 2-in-1 blood glucose and arm blood pressure monitor

People can use the FORA D20 to monitor both blood glucose and blood pressure. This device may be helpful for people living with diabetes, although these individuals will need to purchase additional lances and test strips to test their blood sugar levels.

The device features:

• wide-screen display
• talking voice guide for use
• 450 testing memories with dates and times
• PC-linking capability

Omron Complete wireless upper arm blood pressure monitor + EKG

This combination device records both blood pressure and electrocardiogram (EKG) results. The EKG component is FDA-approved. The device also qualifies for health savings account (HSA) use.

Features of the device include:

• stores up to 90 readings
• compatible with smartphone apps
• comes with 4 AA batteries
• large, adjustable cuff

The American Medical Association and Johns Hopkins University state that a training session — during which a healthcare professional shows the person how to use the device — can help ensure safety and accuracy. During this session, the healthcare professional can also make sure that the device is accurate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that a person should take their blood pressure reading while sitting down with their legs uncrossed. The cuff should fit around the arm snuggly without being too tight.

Using a blood pressure cuff at home has few associated risks, and healthcare professionals generally consider them safe. However, individuals may find it tempting to self-diagnose and self-treat what they consider to be high or low blood pressure. It is important that people always seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional regarding any health concerns.

Having the ability to measure blood pressure at home can be very helpful for people wishing to monitor their blood pressure levels.

Devices that are able to record or transmit data can help a person’s doctor track how their blood pressure fluctuates and how they are responding to treatment.

Individuals can purchase blood pressure devices online or at a local drugstore. The results can provide useful insights into how a person’s blood pressure responds to everyday life.